The Kennedy Center Honors, an annual ceremony that recognizes outstanding artists who have left an indelible mark on American culture, is always a highly anticipated event. In 2019, the honorees included Linda Ronstadt, the legendary singer who broke barriers with her unique voice and eclectic music.
Together at last—your 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees! 🌈
Tune in Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET as we celebrate these incredible luminaries during the #KCHonors broadcast on @CBS & streaming with a free trial of @CBSAllAccess.
📸 John Paul Filo for CBS pic.twitter.com/WUQgdV7lP4
— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) December 8, 2019
During the tribute to Linda Ronstadt, country superstar Carrie Underwood took the stage to pay tribute to the singer. Wearing a blue sparkly dress, Underwood performed two of Ronstadt’s most popular songs – “Blue Bayou” and “When Will I Be Loved.”
“Blue Bayou,” originally sung by Roy Orbison, was covered by Ronstadt in 1977, and it became one of her biggest hits. Underwood’s rendition of the song was simply breathtaking, with her powerful vocals and stage presence capturing the essence of the song.
Next, Underwood performed “When Will I Be Loved,” which Ronstadt released in 1975. Once again, Underwood’s performance was flawless, and the audience was completely captivated by her rendition of the song.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Underwood had performed in honor of Linda Ronstadt. In 2014, when Ronstadt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Underwood, along with Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris, performed “Blue Bayou” in her honor.
The ceremony aired on CBS on December 15, 2019, and it showed Ronstadt beaming with joy as she watched Underwood’s performance. The tribute was a fitting recognition of Ronstadt’s contribution to the world of music, and it highlighted the impact her music has had on generations of artists who have followed in her footsteps.