USA TODAY International Edition
Gala glitters with tears and cheers
‘Hamilton’ recognized alongside Cher, Reba
The Kennedy Center packed lots of star power as it celebrated its latest class of honorees.
Cher, Reba McEntire, saxophonist/ composer Wayne Shorter and composer Philip Glass received the traditional lifetime achievement honor. “Hamilton” co-creators – writer and former star Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, and music director Alex Lacamoire – were honored for their “transformative work.”
Here are moments of note.
Former President George H. W. Bush is remembered
Those on stage remembered the 41st President of the United States. Host Gloria Estefan, a Kennedy Center Honors recipient last year, paid tribute to Bush in her opening remarks.
“Before we begin with a tribute to our first honoree,” she said, “I think it’s appropriate to recognize the passing of a wonderful man who dedicated his life to service and who graciously attended this event many times during his administration, laughing, applauding, singing along and even shedding a tear from right up there in the presidential box, President George H.W. Bush.”
Estefan shared she and her husband were “blessed to get to know President Bush and his family over the years.” Estefan said the former president even phoned her in the hospital when her tour bus was involved in a crash in 1990.
“He had to call our office first ’cause they wouldn’t believe the president was calling,” she said. “And he gave me words of comfort and solace and strength.“He was a gentle, kind man,” she said in conclusion, “who my family and I will never forget.”
David Rubenstein, chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the Kennedy Center, echoed Estefan’s sentiments.
“I never met a more decent man, more charitable man, a more philanthropic person, a more genuine person,” he said of Bush.
Kelly Clarkson’s emotional tribute to Reba McEntire
For Clarkson, simply speaking onstage appeared to be a great tribute to the country singer, who also happens to be her mother-in-law.
“Reba knows I’m not excited about this – I hate giving speeches,” Clarkson said, “but I love her so much that I’m gonna do it.”
“If we’re all being honest, sometimes when we meet our heroes it doesn’t always pan out how you hope,” Clarkson added, “but meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life – truly.
“Thank you so much, Reba for listening to me vent as an artist. Thank you so much for comforting me on the phone through my tears like a friend,” she added, getting choked up, “and thank you for being a really rad grandma for my kids. I love you so much. I hope you enjoy this song. Don’t judge me,” she said. And with that, the “American Idol” winner belted out “Fancy,” and McEntire expressed no judgment. She just sported a wide smile and clapped enthusiastically.
A little bit of “Hamilton”
If you still haven’t seen the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, be sure to tune into the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast for a reunion of several original “Hamilton” cast members. Honorees Miranda and Lacamoire joined Christopher Jackson, who played George Washington, to sing “One Last Time.” Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo and Jasmine Cephas Jones performed “The Schuyler Sisters.”
Whoopi Goldberg’s hilarious tribute to Cher
Goldberg entered the stage clad in sequins. “I went into your closet,” she cracked to Cher, rows above her. “And I’m aware she wears it better.”
Getting more serious, Goldberg praised the musician. “She not only marches to the beat of her own drum, honey, she is a one-woman band.”
Cher’s “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” co-star Amanda Seyfried also paid a comical tribute to the “A Song for the Lonely” singer, sharing with the crowd their first meeting.
“When we first met on set I was so in awe, that I overcompensated,” Seyfried recalled. “I quickly introduced myself ... and I literally ran away. Then the next day, it was our first scene together, and she said something along the lines of ‘I didn’t think you wanted to hang out with me.’ And I was like, ‘Are you nuts? You’re Cher. Everybody wants to hang out with you, ’cause you’re ... Cher.’ ”
Cyndi Lauper’s electrifying performance
Lauper surprised Cher on Sunday. Cher shouted that she thought Lauper would be in Los Angeles, to which Lauper replied: “I lied.“
She performed a rousing rendition of “If I Could Turn Back Time,” dressed in a Cher-inspired ensemble, which moved the crowd to get on their feet. Lauper later returned to sing “I Got You Babe” with “American Idol” alum Adam Lambert, who performed “Believe.”
Tune in when The Kennedy Center Honors air Dec. 26 (8 p.m. EST/PST) on CBS.