On May 22, the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors took place, celebrating five remarkable individuals for their significant contributions to American culture through the arts. Among the honorees were choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, folk music icon Joan Baez, violinist Midori, legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke, and country music legend Garth Brooks.
The star-studded ceremony featured performances from Derek Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Pentatonix, Gladys Knight, Emmylou Harris, Jimmie Allen, Yo-Yo Ma, and Kelly Clarkson, who all came together to honor the honorees. The event will air on CBS on Sunday, June 6th, and will be available for streaming on Paramount+.
Kelly Clarkson was given the special honor of paying tribute to Garth Brooks, a long-time friend and guest on her talk show. Clarkson performed one of his most beloved songs, “The Dance,” and took it to an emotional new level with her heartfelt rendition.
As Clarkson stood on stage in Washington D.C., her voice wavered with emotion, perfectly capturing the essence of the song that Brooks released over three decades ago. Clarkson had previously shared with Brooks that “The Dance” had been a source of comfort to her during a difficult period in her life, specifically during her divorce.
In a conversation with Brooks, she explained how the song resonated with her feelings of loss and heartache, saying, “I couldn’t quite nail down the feeling… ‘The Dance’ came on, and I was like, ‘No, that’s the thing. That’s it.'”
During the performance, Clarkson began a cappella before being joined by her music director on the piano. The cameras captured Garth Brooks throughout the performance, visibly moved by her heartfelt delivery. At one point, Brooks teared up, and after Clarkson sang the final note, he stood up, removed his hat, and exclaimed, “Damn!”
It was a deeply emotional moment, not only for Brooks but for everyone witnessing the powerful tribute to his iconic song.
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