Kennedy Center Honors 2019: Singer Linda Ronstadt honored with an emotional tribute as fans say her songs took them back to childhood
.Music has been a part of Linda Ronstadt's life since the beginning and on Sunday, December 15, night, she was one amongst the slew of celebrities who were honored during the 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors event. The Kennedy center called her 'the defining voice of a generation'.
This year’s other honorees include actor Sally Field, the band Earth, Wind & Fire, the children’s TV show Sesame Street and musical conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.
According to Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein, “The Kennedy Center Honors celebrates icons who, through their artistry, have left an indelible stamp on our collective cultural consciousness." Hosted by LL Cool J, Linda was the first legendary artist to be honored on Sunday night.
The Radio was her only friend until she was five. Growing up Linda thought she'd like to be a singer because she couldn't do arithmetic, and liked singing." Linda's is the voice of a generation who has spanned through different genres like rock, country, light opera, and Latin. Overall Linda has learned has earned 10 Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, and an ALMA Award.
During his speech honoring Linda, Don Henley said, "Linda owned each and every genre she explored." Later Carried Underwood took to center stage and performed a medley of Linda's hits which included “When Will I Be Loved.”
Emmylou Harris while honoring Linda shared, "It's not for her voice alone we honor her tonight. She is a fearless artist who set the bar high for all of us."
Taking to Twitter during the 42nd Kennedy Center Honors, fans claimed that watching Linda getting honored is taking them back to their childhood with some even getting emotional after watching the tribute.
"They just honored Linda Ronstadt on the #KennedyCenterHonors and I’m sobbing. #imnotcryingyourecrying," a fan wrote. Adding to that another said, "I'm watching Kennedy Center Honors. And they're honoring #LindaRonstadt. I listened to her all the time when I was in college. What a phenomenal career. Love her and her music so much!!"
"Oh Linda Ronstadt, I was just transformed back to the best years of my life. Thank you for your incredible voice and music. Sigh," a fan wrote. While another shared, "One of the reasons why I love watching the #KCHonors is bc I grew up listening and watching these songs, movies and shows w my dad but didnt really always know who performed them.. i know all of these #lindaronstadt songs! @KCHonors."
"This retrospective of Linda Ronstadt is transporting me back to my childhood, when my mom was s DJ at a country music station and the management allowed me to hang out with my mom when she worked the late shift. #KCHonors."
