Renowned vocalist Mavis Staples, veteran singer-songwriter James Taylor, and the surviving members of the Eagles were among the honorees at this year's Kennedy Center ceremony, which took place on December 5, 2016, in Washington DC.
With President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in attendance, Bonnie Raitt spoke on behalf of Mavis Staples ahead of her video story (0:33). Don Cheadle then gave a spoken tribute (4:05), and introduced Bonnie Raitt who strapped on a guitar to perform “We Shall Not Be Moved” (6:08) and “Freedom Highway” (7:44) while sharing vocals with singer Audra Day. Singer Elle King also paid tribute to Staples with a performance of “Respect Yourself” (9:18) and “I’ll Take You There (10:26).”
Mavis Staples, the last living member of the Staples Singers, at 77 is still a singing and touring dynamo who hit the road the past summer of 2016 with longtime friend Bob Dylan. She told Billboard the Kennedy Center accolade is “the best honor. Zero. No hire. And this is the history-making year because this is the last time it’ll happen with this President so I’m really honored. I made it, baby.”
“I grew up loving the Staples Singers,” Elle King, who commanded attention with a powerful rendition of “Respect Yourself, told Billboard before the show. “She’s just the brightest light and warmest person ever, and I hope she feels all the love everyone feels for her.”
Also feting Staples were Bonnie Raitt and Andra Day, who were tone-perfect delivering “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Freedom’s Highway,” one of many Civil Rights-themed songs the group honed after patriarch Pops Staples developed a deep friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King.