This Tuesday December 28th, The Kennedy Center Honors and Mrs. and Mr. President Obama will be honoring the lifetime achievement work that this years honorees have done: Sir Paul McCartney, Jerry Herman, Oprah Winfrey (I'm SO sorry "O" for putting you third), Merle Haggard and Bill T. Jones in no means any small amount of talent. I'm not sure all the performances that will grace the evening will be to the level that they have been in the past (Possibly with the exception of Jessica Simpson's "Nine to Five"....was it what came after 4 that confused her?) I still remember previous years where Audra McDonald charmed in "I Could Have Danced All Night", Donna Murphy gave a breathtaking "Kiss of the Spiderwoman", Tyne Daly gave us "Some People," Bernadette Peters delivered a gorgeous "Not a Day Goes By and Scott Bakula sang "Nothing's Gonna Harm You" for Stephen Sondheim, Heater Headley tour though "Your Song", Patti LuPone bellowed a lovely "Lonely Town" for Comden & Green, Idina Menzel belted "Don't Rain on My Parade" does Babs and also Beyonce gave a stunning "Way We Where for her as well Though for me nothing beats Betty LaVette turning in a STUNNING performance of "The Who's" ballad "Love Reign O'er Me." I remember not knowing who she was and was planning on fliping channels but by the first note could NOT take my eyes off of her and by the end you could see Roger Daltry and Peter Townshend were in tears and even Stresaid could be seen going Who IS she!!!!
This is a video of Heather Headley selling "young Song" so well tha even though she cracks at the final note she pours so much emotion into this performance and with a full choir backing her up this is THE performance of this song and she sound the best she's ever sounded. Inreresting side note I saw Health Headley play Michelle in the Marriott Linclnshire's production of "Dreamgirls" that should have also stared Felicia P. Fields (Tony nominee for playing Oprah's role in "The Color Purple" but she had damaged her voice so she missed a lot of performances....plus though no one wanted to admit it she was a little old to be playing Effie White.
An ownknown to me Betty LaVette turned in a STUNNING performance of "The Who's" ballad "Love Reign O'er Me." that she included in her Grammy Nominated disc "Interpretations The British Songbook" one of the best CD's of the year. .
This is the kind of STAR performance that can tear you apart. I can't wait for this years water cooler moment.
This year for the Jerry Herman tribute they've announced Angela Lansbury to lead the tribute, which includes performances from “La Cage” star Kelsey Grammer and “Hello Dolly!” leading lady Carol Channing — who performs a number titled “Hello, Jerry” Matthew Morrison of "Glee" sings "It's Today" from "Mame." and in what should be a delightful pairing, Christine Baranski and Christine Ebersole team up for “Bosom Buddies” Tony-winner Laura Benanti (“Gypsy”) sings “Time Heals Everything.” Tony-winner Sutton Foster (“Thoroughly Modern Millie”) performs “Before the Parade Passes By.” And Kelli O’Hara (“South Pacific”) sings “It Only Takes a Moment” with TV’s Matthew Bomer. Chita Rivera joins in, singing and dancing to “I Don’t Want to Know.” And the segment concludes with two of Herman’s biggest hits (both from “La Cage aux Folles”): “I Am What I Am” and “The Best of Times.” I'm not sure how much will make the broadcast. Also what's really exciting me is for the Oprah segmant Academy Award, Grammy Winner, and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson will be belting though I Was Here from "The Musical The Color Purple. Wonder if Fantasia is upset. The Second performance I included is Betty LaVette's materful interpertation of this song from "The Who" I don't know the song well "Love Raign O're Me" but nt only did she own the song you could tell she lived it enough that both Roger Daltery and Peter Thownshed were in tears and even Streisand can be seen asking who is she.
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