The 40th Annual Kennedy Center Honors—paying tribute to actor, dancer, and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, singer-songwriter and actor Gloria Estefan, recording artist LL Cool J, television writer and producer Norman Lear, and musician and record producer Lionel Richie—was broadcast December 26 on CBS.
Three-time Tony nominee Rebecca Luker was among the artists paying tribute to honoree de Lavallade. In the video above Luker performs a glorious version of the Show Boat ballad “Bill” while Misty Copeland and Tony nominee Robert Fairchild offered an emotional dance.
Read: WHICH BROADWAY STARS PERFORMED AT THE 40TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS?
Others who paid tribute to de Lavallade included Meryl Streep, Jon Batiste, Sheléa Frazier, Jacqueline Bolier, and the Howard University Gospel Choir. Watch Streep's appearance on the annual broadcast below: