Bonnie Raitt Performs For Mavis Staples At 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
By Andy Kahn Dec 28, 2016 • 8:21 am PST
Last night CBS aired the 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors from Washington D.C. Hosted by Stephen Colbert, the event featured a number of musicians performing tributes to Mavis Staples, Eagles and James Taylor who were among this year’s recipients of the distinguished honor.
With President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance, Bonnie Raitt spoke on behalf of Staples and strapped on a guitar to perform “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Freedom Highway” while sharing vocals with Audra Day. Singer Elle King also paid tribute to Staples with a performance of “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.”
Three musicians paid tribute to Taylor, with Sheryl Crow tackling “Fire & Rain,” Darius Rucker taking on “Sweet Baby James” and “Carolina In My Mind” and Garth Brooks offering “Shower The People” and “How Sweet It Is” with the help of Crow and Rucker. In honor of the Eagles, Juanes, Steve Vai and Steuart Smith played their classic “Hotel California” while Kings Of Leon covered “Take It Easy” before they collectively were joined by Bob Seger and Vince Gill for the show closing “Life In the Fast Lane.”
President Obama also bestowed Kennedy Center Honors upon pianist Martha Argerich and actor Al Pacino. Watch the performances below:
