Several weeks ago, the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., celebrating the King of Country Music alongside cultural icons like KISS, Sylvester Stallone, Broadway star Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor.
The Kennedy Center, formerly known as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is widely recognized for this annual event, which honors artists who have made a lasting impact on American culture. Located in the nation’s capital, it serves as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Over the years, countless country legends have been celebrated here, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and George Jones.
This year, Miranda Lambert took the stage to honor George Strait with a stunning rendition of his hit “Run.” A longtime favorite of fans, “Run” was the lead single from Strait’s 2001 album The Road Less Traveled. Despite peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart three separate times, the song never claimed the top spot — though its emotional power has only grown over the years.
Miranda and George have performed the song together in the past, including during his 2014 The Cowboy Rides Away Tour: Live from AT&T Stadium. Seeing her bring it back for this special occasion made for one of the night’s most unforgettable moments.
Other country stars also took part in honoring Strait. Brooks & Dunn delivered a memorable performance, and Garth Brooks made a surprising appearance performing KISS’s “Shout It Out Loud,” adding another layer of excitement to the evening.
The full ceremony airs tonight on CBS and is also streaming on Paramount+. But even in just this glimpse, it’s clear: this is country music at its finest. Miranda’s performance, complete with that iconic diamond bolo tie, was nothing short of spectacular — fans are surely hoping she records this one in the studio next.
Do yourself a favor and check it out. This is country music at its absolute best: