By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
On Sunday, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate the best in American culture with its annual Kennedy Center Honors celebration. This edition of The Kennedy Center Honors will celebrate actress Sally Field, singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt, R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, and Sesame Street.
Before this group is honored, here are ten of the best performances and tributes from this past decade.
#10-James Taylor, Mavis Staples, & Steven Tyler: “Let It Be”/”Hey Jude” (Sir Paul McCartney, 2010)
Three music legends kickstart this countdown! James Taylor teamed up with Mavis Staples and Steven Tyler to conclude Sir Paul McCartney’s tribute with a pair of signature Beatles tunes: “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude.” With the help of Steven Tyler and a massive choir, the duo transformed the classic songs into a show-stopping performance.
#9-Emily Estefan: “Reach” (Gloria Estefan, 2017)
In 1996, Rosanne Cash made history when she paid homage to her father, country music icon Johnny Cash, at the Kennedy Center. Twenty years later, another entertainer paid tribute to her famous parent. Emily Estefan stole the show when she sang her mother, Gloria’s prolific Olympics anthem: “Reach.” Seeing both Mr. and Mrs. Estefan’s faces swell up with pride as their daughter performed made fans ecstatic!
#8-Lady Gaga: “If I Ever Lose My Faith” (Sting, 2014)
Besides Rev. Al Green’s excellent tribute (more on that later), Lady Gaga was the only solo performer that electrified the Kennedy Center during the 2014 ceremony. Between her fabulous vocals and commanding the stage, Lady Gaga cemented her future in the entertainment industry with this outstanding performance.
#7-Cyndi Lauper: “If I Could Turn Back Time” (Cher, 2018)
“I thought you were in Los Angeles!” screamed Cher. “I lied,” said Cyndi Lauper. That exchanged happened when the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning artist surprised her longtime friend on the Kennedy Center stage. Cyndi Lauper brought the audience to their feet with her rousing cover of Cher’s 1989 hit. It was one of Ms. Lauper’s best vocals and proved why the Kennedy Center should think about honoring the “True Colors” singer-songwriter in the future.
#6-Billy Joel Tribute (Billy Joel, 2013)
As a massive Billy Joel fan, I nearly wept throughout this Kennedy Center tribute. Several recording industry heavyweights teamed up to pay homage to the Piano Man. Previous Kennedy Center Honoree Tony Bennett paid homage and narrated a short video about the “We Didn’t State the Fire” singer-songwriter’s career. Next, Panic! At the Disco lead vocalist, Brendan Urie sang “Big Shot.” Mr. Joel’s longtime friend, Don Henley, surprised the audience with a tender cover of “She’s Got A Way.” However, it was Garth Brooks that delivered two knockout punches: “Allentown” and “Goodnight Saigon,” which featured a chorus of Vietnam War veterans. Once the veterans left the stage, Rufus Wainwright closed out the tribute with two of Mr. Joel’s anthems: “New York State of Mind” and “Piano Man.”
#5-Adam Lambert: “Believe” (Cher, 2018)
I have followed Adam Lambert’s career since he auditioned for American Idol. What set him apart from his fellow contestants was his innate ability to transform a song and make it his own. I fondly remember Adam’s final pre-live performance of Cher’s “Believe” and thought that he would make it big. Nearly ten years after that performance, the Queen frontman revisited his enchanting cover of Cher’s 1999 hit. Not only did Adam impressed several entertainment heavyweights, but he also made the music icon weep.
#4-Al Green Tribute (Reverend Al Green, 2014)
Reverend Al Green had the best tribute at the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. After Whoopi Goldberg paid homage (and called out former President Obama on his Al Green impression)to the R&B legend, Earth, Wind & Fire sang “Love and Happiness.” Jennifer Hudson made the audience weep with her outstanding performance of “Simply Beautiful,” while Usher covered “Let’s Stay Together.” However, fellow R&B legends Mavis Staples and Sam Moore stole the show with their phenomenal cover of “Take Me to the River.”
#3-Steven Tyler: “Abbey Road Medley” (Sir Paul McCartney, 2010)
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler hit a high note when he paid homage to Sir Paul McCartney at the beginning of this decade. The former American Idol judge delivered a fiery medley of four songs from the Beatles’ Abbey Road: “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” and “The End.” Not only did Mr. Tyler move the Kennedy Center audience, but he made the legendary singer-songwriter very proud.
#2-Aretha Franklin: “You’ve Make Me Feel Like A (Natural Woman)” (Carole King, 2015)
The Queen of Soul’s final performance at the Kennedy Center Honors was one for the record books. When Aretha Franklin sang the Carole King-penned track, pandemonium ensued. The performance animated Carole King while making former President Obama openly weep. Also, Ms. Franklin showcased why she was music’s gold standard for decades.
#1-Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, & Jason Bonham: “Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin, 2012)
If there were one performance that would keep Aretha Franklin away from the top spot, it would be the Wilson sisters and Jason Bonham’s tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all-time. I watched the 2012 ceremony with my dad, Matthew, who is a classic rock superfan, and I asked him: “Will they include “Stairway to Heaven”? Before this performance aired, Dad stated that there was no way that the ceremony would include the band’s signature track because of its complexity. The Wilsons and Jason Bonham proved him wrong. Backed by a gospel choir and a plethora of musicians, this powerhouse trio blew the Kennedy Center audience away with their masterful cover. The performance made Robert Plant weep, excited Jimmy Paige, and sent Bonnie Raitt, Debbie Allen, and Yo-Yo Ma into nirvana.
The 2019 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will air this Sunday on CBS!
