This year’s Kennedy Center celebration aired on CBS last night, with Linda Ronstadt, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sally Field, “Sesame Street” and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas honored.

  • The Eagles’ Don Henley, Kevin Kline and Emmylou Harris were on hand to introduce portions of the tribute to Linda, which featured performances by Carrie Underwood, who performed “Blue Bayou” and “When Will I Be Loved,” and Trisha Yearwood, who performed “You’re No Good,” and was joined by Aaron Neville for “Don’t Know Much.” In addition, mariachi band Flor De Toloache honored her with a performance.
  • Sally Field’s tribute featured director Steven Spielberg and actor Pierce Brosnan, and also had Tom Hanks breaking out a bit of his Oscar-winning role of Forrest Gump, for which Field played his mother. He also poked fun at her days playing “The Flying Nun.” Maura Tierney was also on hand to share her experience playing Field’s daughter on “ER.”
  • The “Sesame Street” segment featured a film tribute that included Lionel Richie, Yo-Yo Ma and Patti LaBelle, while Joseph Gordon Levitt chatted on stage with beloved character Cookie Monster, Big Bird had an audience encounter with “Thanks,” a.k.a. Tom Hanks, Cedric The Entertainer had some fun with Elmo and Abbey and Thomas Rhett was joined by all the puppets to sing a tribute by “Sesame Street.” The tribute also had the show’s puppeteers coming out with their puppets to perform “Sing,” with all of them wearing yellow features in tribute to Big Bird puppeteer Caroll Spinney, who died earlier this month.
  • Thomas’ segment featured an orchestra of alums from his New World Symphony, who performed Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown” and more. It also featured Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Debra Winger and Broadway star Audra McDonald, who sang Gershwin’s “I’ve Got Rhythm” and Leonard Bernstein’s “There’s a Place for Us.”
  • As for Earth, Wind and Fire, David Foster introduced the tribute, and they were celebrated with a star-studded segment that featured John Legend, who performed “Can’t Hide Love,” Cynthia Erivo, who performed “Fantasy” and “Reasons,” Ne-Yo, who got the crowd on their feet with “Shining Star” and “Sing A Song,” and Jonas Brothers, who kept the dancing going with “Boogie Wonderland.” Then all the artists came back for the finale of their megahit “September.”

Source: Dr. Dave’s Ultimate Prep