Country music icon Reba McEntire was honored alongside Cher, saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter, composer Philip Glass, “Hamilton” co-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, and music director Alex Lacamoire during the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony on Sunday, December 2nd.
Kelly Clarkson was on hand to help celebrate Reba and delivered a touching speech.
“Reba knows I’m not excited about this – I hate giving speeches,” Clarkson said (quotes via USA Today), “but I love her so much that I’m gonna do it.”
“If we’re all being honest, sometimes when we meet our heroes it doesn’t always pan out how you hope,” the Texan added, “but meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life – truly.
“Thank you so much, Reba for listening to me vent as an artist. Thank you so much for comforting me on the phone through my tears like a friend,” she added, getting choked up, “and thank you for being a really rad grandma for my kids.
“I love you so much. I hope you enjoy this song. Don’t judge me,” she said.
Clarkson then covered McEntire’s “Fancy” while the Oklahoman enjoyed the performance with a big smile. Kelly is married to Reba’s stepson Brandon Blackstock and they have two children together, River Rose and Remington Alexander.
Besides celebrating Reba, Kelly also got to meet Cher in person for the first time!
Lady Antebellum and Brooks & Dunn also performed at the event. Enjoy this video recap of the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors below! Yes, that’s Reba’s boyfriend Anthony “Skeeter” Lasuzzo seated with her.
Congrats to Reba McEntire and the other honorees! Enjoy the star’s “Fancy” music video below!
“Fancy” Lyrics
I remember it all very well lookin’ back
It was the summer I turned eighteen
We lived in a one room, rundown shack
On the outskirts of New Orleans
We didn’t have money for food or rent
To say the least we were hard pressed
Then Mama spent every last penny we had
To buy me a dancin’ dress
Mama washed and combed and curled my hair
And she painted my eyes and lips then I stepped into a satin
Dancin’ dress that had a split on the side clean up to my hip
It was red velvet trim and it fit me good
Standin’ back from the lookin’ glass
There stood a woman where a half gown kid had stood
She said here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Mama dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck
And she kissed my cheek
Then I saw the tears wellin’ up in her troubled eyes
When she started to speak
She looked at a pitiful shack
And then she looked at me and took a ragged breath
She said your Pa’s run off and I’m real sick
And the baby’s gonna starve to death
She handed me a heart shaped locket that said
“To thine own self be true”
And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across
The toe of my high heel shoe
It sounded like somebody else that was talkin’
Askin’ Mama what do I do
She said just be nice to the gentlemen Fancy
And they’ll be nice to you
She said here’s your chance Fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Lord forgive me for what I do, but if you want out
Well it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down you better start movin’ uptown
Well, that was the last time I saw my Ma
The night I left that rickety shack
The welfare people came and took the baby
Mama died and I ain’t been back
But the wheels of fate had started to turn
And for me there was no way out
And it wasn’t very long ’til I knew exactly
What my Mama’s been talkin’ about
I knew what I had to do but I made myself this solemn vow
That I’s gonna be a lady someday
Though I don’t know when or how
I couldn’t see spending the rest of my life
With my head hung down in shame you know
I might have been born just plain white trash
But Fancy was my name
Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
It wasn’t very long after a benevolent man
Took me off the street
And one week later I was pourin’ his tea
In a five room hotel suite
I charmed a king, a congressman
And an occasional aristocrat
Then I got me a Georgia mansion
In an elegant New York townhouse flat
And I ain’t done bad
Now in this world there’s a lot of self-righteous hypocrite
That would call me bad
And criticize Mama for turning me out
No matter how little we had
But though I ain’t had to worry ’bout nothin’
For nigh on fifteen years
I can still hear the desperation in my poor
Mama’s voice ringin’ in my ear
She said, here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down
Lord, forgive me for what I do
But if you want out well it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down
Your Mama’s gonna help you uptown
I guess she did
