Linda Ronstadt Praises Carrie Underwood’s Performance of “Blue Bayou”

The stars aligned for a musical dream come true at the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors on December 8, 2019. Among the esteemed honorees was Linda Ronstadt, who received a heartfelt musical tribute performed by Carrie Underwood. Underwood sang Ronstadt’s signature song, “Blue Bayou,” earning admiration from the music legend herself.

Ronstadt’s career spans nearly six decades, filled with numerous accolades and honors. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, she received the National Medal of Arts the following summer and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Kennedy Center Honors added another prestigious accolade to her storied career.

Joining Ronstadt among the 2019 honorees were Sally Field, ‘Sesame Street,’ musical conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, and the band Earth, Wind & Fire. The John F. Kennedy Center hosted the event, highlighting the lifetime artistic achievements of these distinguished individuals.

Underwood’s tribute included remarkable performances of “Blue Bayou” and “When Will I Be Loved.” Dressed in a dazzling blue gown, the ‘American Idol’ champion dedicated her performance to a woman she described as someone who “broke the rules and sang music that was true to her.” This was not the first time Underwood sang “Blue Bayou” for Ronstadt, having also done so during Ronstadt’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014.

“Blue Bayou” was originally performed by Roy Orbison in 1963, but Ronstadt’s 1977 cover became her signature song, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for nearly a month. Underwood’s rendition delighted Ronstadt, who smiled throughout her performance.

The evening featured other fantastic tributes for all honorees. Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Neville teamed up to perform “Don’t Know Much,” another hit for Ronstadt. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg also paid tribute to Sally Field; Hanks starred with Field in ‘Forrest Gump,’ and Spielberg directed her in ‘Lincoln.’ The event was a night to remember, filled with touching musical performances and heartfelt celebrations of artistic achievement.

Source: Particle News