Top 10 Live Tribute Performances from the Kennedy Center Honors, Washington DC

We’re counting down the top 10 live performances from the Kennedy Center Honors. The Kennedy Center Honors have been compared to a knighthood in Britain. It’s an annual celebration recognizing the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of the world’s most-prestigious artists.

After some reflection, and significant community feedback! I must add two important honorable mentions. Adam Lambert's performance of "Believe" in honor of Cher, and Heart's performance of Stairway to Heaven in honor of LED Zeppelin.

ABOUT US: We are a gay couple who retired early in order to travel and enjoy life. We spend half our time in Washington DC and the other half in extended slow travel all over the world. Join us as we share our life in this fascinating city and as we take you along to other interesting locations.

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00:00 Introduction
00:47 Number 10. Jennifer Hudson paying tribute to Oprah Winfrey with a performance of "I’m Here".
01:13 Number 9. Idina Menzel and her powerful performance of "Don't Rain on My Parade" for Honoree Barbra Streisand.
01:38 Number 8. Billy Joel performing Benny and the Jets and a medley of other Elton John hits for the 2004 honoree.
02:04 Number 7. Alicia Keys performing Bridge Over Troubled Waters for the tribute to Paul Simon.
02:21 Number 6. Kelly Clarkson singing the captivating hit ‘Fancy’ in celebration of Reba McEntire.
02:38 Number 5. Broadway star Audra McDonald performed "Somewhere" from West Side Story to honor Michael Tilson Thomas.
02:59 Number 4. In a stunning performance, Beyonce sang “The Way We Were’ in a tribute to Barbara Streisand.
03:25 Number 3. Cyndi Lauper performed “If I Could Turn Back Time” in celebration of Cher.
03:44 Number 2. Dramatic soprano Jesse Norman singing Amazing Grace as a tribute to actor and film director Sidney Poitier.
04:15 Number 1. Beyoncé performing “Proud Mary” in celebration of the legend Tina Turner.

[rgrndu]

Ann & Nancy Wilson’s Stairway To Heaven is the best live performance I’ve ever scene. Not just at the KCH, anywhere. It moves me to tears every time I watch it.

[mackeydirk]

Heart's Stairway to Heaven performance blows all others right off the stage! No way it is not #1.

[sharonlyman]

Heart's Stairway and Lambert's Believe are my 1 & 2. Can't believe they were missed.

[joeprince]

How can you not have Aretha Franklin You make feel like a natural woman for Carol King.

[tiffa]

Heart stairway to heaven head and shoulders above the others . Best ever

[kb]

Heart -Stairway to Heaven, LED Zeppelin

[rudyjones]

Heart... Stairway to Heaven.
No performance has been better.

[genereynolds]

1. Heart- Stairway to Heaven. 2. Jeff Beck/Beth Hart tribute of Buddy Guy “I’d Rather Go Blind” 3.Eddie Vedder- My City of Ruins Bruce. 4. Bettye LaVette-Love Reign O’er Me- The Who

[j.l.armendariz]

Heart and they should be on the website! Don’t be stupid!😎

[lilydafonseca]

ANN AND NANCY WILSON'S STARWAY TO HEAVEN!!!

[pamviglietti]

I love watching all of the Kennedy Center Honors & would love to attend one day! Heart performing Stairway to Heaven & Aretha Franklin’s Natural Woman should have been included. Maybe a Top 12!

[williamrod]

Adam Lambert’s Believe for Cher. And Heart for Led Zeppelin

[audreycumby]

Jennifer Hudson's singing to Al Green's has to be on this list..'Simply Beautiful' ! That performance was stunning!

[Chrypto]

I'm in total agreement when it comes to Adam Lambert's captivating performance of Cher's "Believe" and Aretha Franklin's mesmerizing rendition of Carole King's "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman." Both were dazzling!




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[rockit]

This is useless without Heart doing Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”!

[karnsfan]

Heart - Stairway to Heaven; Aretha - Natural Woman. Better than any of these.

[rudyjones]

None is better than Heart...
Ann and Nancy Wilson..
Led Zeppelin
Stairway to Heaven.

None better.

[fong]

This list is woefully incomplete. I’m going to assume the Heart, Adam Lambert, and Betty LaVette tributes were not available on the website because they absolutely have to be on a top 10 list.

[trgoohileshea]

Let's fix this list. #4, Kelly Clarkson, The Dance, Garth Brooks; #3, Adam Lambert, Believe, Cher; #2, Aretha Franklin, Natural Woman, Carole King; #1 Heart, Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin. There, fixed your list for you!!

[memeehan]

You left out Aretha's stunning performance and Heart singing Stairway to Heaven....what planet are you from????