The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony took place in May, and it aired on CBS last night. One of the highlights of the night – certainly for country music fans – was Kelly Clarkson’s cover of “The Dance,” during the segment of the evening that paid tribute to Garth Brooks.

While audience members were clearly touched by Clarkson’s soulful rendition of the song, no one was more moved than Brooks himself. He sat in the front row, accompanied by Trisha Yearwood, and the other honorees and their dates. The other honorees were Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Allen, Joan Baez and violinist Midori.

Clarkson is obviously a skilled song interpreter; she’s known to cover popular songs at her concerts and on her “Kellyoke” portion of The Kelly Clarkson Show. And this was surely one of her greatest covers.  Watch the video below.

Garth Brooks Top 30 Songs

• Share

  30. "What She's Doing Now" - A song Garth himself co-wrote from the 'Ropin’ The Wind' album. It was released in December of 1991.

• Share

  29. "That's the Way I Remember It" - From 'In the Life of Chris Gaines' (as Chris Gaines) Album. Yeah, people make fun of the project, but so many of the songs on it were solid.

• Share

  28. "Why Ain't I Running" - Released in 2003 from Brooks’ 'Scarecrow' album.The song peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Country Singles chart.
• Share

  27. "People Loving People" - Garth is so good at songs that bring people together and this is one of them from his 2014 'Man Against Machine album.'

• Share

  26. "She's Every Woman" - A romantic song from Brooks’ 1995 'Fresh Horses' album. It went to number one and is another one Garth co-wrote, this time with Victoria Shaw.

• Share

  25. "Do What You Gotta Do" - A song released in January of 2000 from his 'Sevens' album. It was a remake of a song recorded by New Grass Revival for their 1989 album 'Friday Night in America.'
• Share

  24. "Lost in You" - Another Chris Gaines classic and one I personally played over and over again. 'The Life of Chris Gaines' was released in 1999.

• Share

  23. "Wrapped Up in You" - A single released from Garh’s 'Scarecrow' album in 2001. Another great love song.

• Share

  22. "It Don't Matter to the Sun" - Call me crazy but this is another song from Garth’s 1999 'Chis Gaines' album and it’s just good no matter who he was pretending to be.
• Share

  21. "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" - This is just a classic from Brooks’ debut album, released in 1989.

• Share

  20. "Rodeo" - The perfect song from the 'Ropin’ The Wind' album and a tribute to the rodeo riders including Garth’s good friend Chris LeDoux who passed away in March of 2005.

• Share

  19. "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association" - Aren’t we all members of this association? Just a great fun single from Garth. It was released on his 'In Pieces' album in 1993.
• Share

  18. "Not Counting You" - A two stepper perfect for dancing released from Brooks’ 1989 self-titled debut album.

• Share

  17. "The River" - A powerful song that tells a story from Garth’s 'Ropin' The Wind' album. The song was released as a single and went straight to the top in late 1992.

• Share

  16. "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" - A perfect stadium song and so much fun. This was a huge hit for Brooks in the summer of 1993.
• Share

  15. "More Than a Memory" - A solid hit written by Lee Brice, Billy Montana and Kyle Jaobs. It made history becoming the only country single to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Songs chart.

• Share

  14. "Dive Bar" (with Blake Shelton) - A great song and collaboration between Garth and Blake Shelton. The underwater video was also a big hit. This song inspired a tour of dive bars for Brooks in 2019.

• Share

  13. "The Thunder Rolls" - The song’s video is quite dramatic showing Garth singing in the rain. The song’s subject matter is as strong and powerful as the song itself. Little known fact: The song was originally recorded by Tanya Tucker but she never released it.
• Share

  12. "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" - An upbeat song about love from Garth’s 'No Fences' album.

• Share

  11. "Shameless" - A remake of a Billy Joel classic that Brooks definitely made his own.

• Share

  10. "To Make You Feel My Love" - Found on the soundtrack of the 1998 movie 'Hope Floats.' Written by Bob Dylan, Dylan gave it to Billy Joel to record for his 'Greatest Hits Vol. III." Dylan later recorded it himself, as did Garth. Trisha Yearwood did her own version (also on 'Hope Floats') and years later, Adele covered it as well.
• Share

  9. "If Tomorrow Never Comes" - A song well known to be a Garth classic from his debut album. The number one song was only his second single.

• Share

  8. "Standing Outside the Fire" - A timeless song about standing up for social justice.

• Share

  7. "Callin' Baton Rouge" - A song released in 1994 and a thriller in concert. From the 'In Pieces' album, it charted number one on Billboard’s Hot CountrySingles and Songs chart.
• Share

  6. "Papa Loved Mama" - Call me dark, but this is one of my favorite murder songs about a truck driver not able to handle his cheating wife. It only went top five in 1992.

• Share

  5. “Shallow” with Trisha Yearwood - Garth and Trisha did a great version of the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga hit from their film 'A Star Is Born.'

• Share

  4. "Unanswered Prayers" - A tender ballad released in October of 1990. Yeah, it went straight to number one.
• Share

  3. "We Shall Be Free" - Probably my favorite song of Garth’s again bringing people together in what should be a fair and loving world.

• Share

  2. "Friends in Low Places" - Arguably Garth’s biggest hit and definitely the song that made him a superstar. Everyone loves this one from 'No Fences.'

• Share

  1. "The Dance" - One of the greatest songs of all time was right there on Brooks’ debut album released in 1989. The song’s video shows several American icons and examples of people who died for a dream.

Sign me up for the K104.7 email newsletter!

Your favorite station is giving you exclusive access to some great content. Become a K 104.7 VIP Member and get exclusive access to music news, contests, quizzes, and MORE!

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.