10 BEST Kennedy Center Honors Performances

Over four decades, the Kennedy Center Honors have become one of the highest accolades for the performing arts, celebrating the biggest names of stage, screen and music for their profound cultural impact. As part of the festivities, the lucky recipients attend a star-studded gala where worldwide stars pay tribute with incredible live performances.

With COVID delaying the 2020 events, which has been rescheduled for May this year, we thought we'd showcase our Top 10 favourite performances from the Kennedy Center Honors!

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[MANthoughts]

Watch all these performances and MORE uninterrupted via our Kennedy Center playlist

[edgerunnerproduction]

That performance of Stairway is the best cover of any song in history. PERIOD! Killed it!

[woodencan]

The Stairway to Heaven performance was something else alright

[ScalaMari]

There are so many iconic and beautiful performances at the kennedy honors center but Heart's one is definitely the best cause it has all the elements for epic... Iconic band exdcution and orchestry of the song, the son of the late drummer, the choir, the emotion of the members... Perfection

[amandabooth]

Heart number #1 I definitely agree. Led zeppelin was getting teary-eyed when they were watching.

[remavineyard]

Nothing comes close to that Adam Lambert performance! It is absolute perfection! Great choice!

[robertcorona]

You got it right with number 1. That performance was the best and most emotional cover I have ever witnessed. Legendary song. Legendary band.

[dorieann]

Heart wins hands down. When you can bring Robert Plant to tears, nothing more can be said.

[robgweston]

Have to say, Beyoncé, Aretha, Cynthia, and Heart are all in my faves. That stairway to heaven performance, brings me to tears every single time. The amazing choirs, orchestra it is all amazing. Stunning!

[Johnnykgb-nsa]

Heart's rendition of Stairway To Heaven, was amazing, add in Bonzo's son Jason on drum's, and then Page, Plant, Jones reaction and approval was the icing on the cake.

[billperich]

The Paul MCcartney tribute was incredible specially when Steven Tyler showed up and performed like no one else can! Loved it.

[bernlin]

That Aretha performance will always be tops for me...Heart have been at the top of their game for decades, they haven't let up. Aretha had been through a lot of struggles at that point in her life (and only lived a few more years afterwards), so her performance was a very dramatic, wonderful surprise.

[SuperStarr]

I rewatch Heart's Stairway performance all the time and I cry everytime, phenomenal performance.

[kprnr]

Heart doing Stairway To Heaven is awesome!
Anne Wilson has always been one of my favourite singers. ❤️🤘

[lkbarrett]

You know what all these performances have in common? The performers can all actually SING. No autotune necessary for any of these people.

[stevejohnson]

So many could be chosen, but no question the number one choice was spot on. Ann Wilson just nailed it. It move Plant to tears and so many Zeplin fans.

[BMass]

Stairway is not one of my favorite songs (sorry) but Heart even brought me to tears. That performance was amazing

[camillep]

Adam Lambert's performance left Cher speechless, even 3 days later she couldn't articulate how amazing his performance was

[MusicLover-]

Even very good songs get better when Adam Lambert takes them with his phenomenal voice - he always gets to the core. His own songs are wonderful, too, and his collaboration with Queen is pure magic. ❤

[cherinoelke]

Thank you for putting Stairway to Heaven #1. Miss Aretha truly was phenomenal. But, Ann and Nancy are the only ones who know how to cover the mighty Zep, and that arrangement was unbelievable. I remember reading an article written decades ago that Robert Plant had given, saying he hated bands covering their work, except Heart. He thought they got it right! High praise indeed.