KENNEDY CENTER HONORS

The Kennedy Center has finally caught up with us Baby Boomers! Many years ago I remember watching the Kennedy Center Honors and thinking this is kind of boring and stuffy and old. I probably grabbed the clicker and changed channels before too long. I didn’t relate to any of the honorees.

Well, tonight was finally my night to watch – of course, I still switched channels during some of the middle but the beginning and ending was definitely my cup of tea! They honored Oprah Winfrey and my favorite Beatle, Paul McCartney.



Oprah and Paul at the gala

I absolutely love Oprah and have watched her show for much of its 25 years. I know the stories of why Julia Roberts, John Travolta and Sidney Poitier all spoke on her behalf at the gala. This is truly a woman who should be honored – she makes all of us feel like we have a friend to chat with each day.

They closed the show by honoring Paul McCartney. A myriad of singers did renditions of Beatles and Wings songs – but the highlight was Steven Tyler taking the stage in his flamboyant Steven Tyler style. In no time, he had the entire audience on their feet, swaying and rocking out to a medley of Paul’s songs.

Everyone – Oprah, Stedman, Paul, Julia, John, Sidney, President Obama and Michelle, Steven, the other performers, the audience – stood and sang the familiar refrain we all know, “Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Jude” over and over while waving their arms back and forth above their heads. Now that’s what I call a Kennedy Center Honors show!