The Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by Stephen Colbert in Washington D.C., aired last night on CBS, and featured tributes to three musical figures: The Eagles, Mavis Staples, and James Taylor. In addition to heartfelt speeches paying tribute to this slightly odd grouping of acts (Bill Clinton called James Taylor’s songs “seams in our national life”), there were performances.
Kings of Leon had an aggressive presence in the Eagles portion (“Take It Easy,” collaborating with Bob Seger, Vince Gill, Juanes, Steve Vai, and Colbert). Bonnie Raitt, Andra Day, and Elle King performed Mavis Staples standards “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Respect Yourself,” and James Taylor’s segment boasted a high-profile and rather unsurprising trio of acts: Sheryl Crow (“Fire & Rain”), Darius Rucker (“Sweet Baby James”) and Garth Brooks (“Carolina In My Mind”).
Watch videos from the night below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fqfl3SFzatM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUaw9Wz1oI
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wS0LVUoEF3o
https://youtube.com/watch?v=I2n5hpSVGY8
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zwCg-6WMh9Q
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hciJOZId_Eg
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hebi5eOLXxs
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mTg–Lbzy08
https://youtube.com/watch?v=rYOD_dpWw7o
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8bTPeSyn2Pk
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1ttef26l-Jk