They really don’t miss.
A few weeks ago in Washington, D.C., the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony paid tribute to the King of Country Music, honoring him alongside cultural heavyweights like KISS, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, and Gloria Gaynor.
The venue—now known as the Trump–Kennedy Center—has seen major changes recently. While President Donald Trump largely stayed hands-off during his first term, he’s taken a much more active role in his second, even appointing Lee Greenwood to the board and naming himself chair as part of a broader organizational overhaul.
For most people, the Kennedy Center is best known for this annual event, which recognizes a select group of artists and entertainers each year. Located in Washington, D.C., the Center serves as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Over the years, country music royalty like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and George Jones have all received the honor.
Several country stars were on hand to celebrate this year’s honoree. Miranda Lambert delivered a flawless performance of “Run,” while Brooks & Dunn took on Amarillo by Morning—and absolutely crushed it.
Released in 1982, “Amarillo by Morning” became one of George Strait’s defining songs after peaking at No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Despite never hitting No. 1, it’s widely regarded as his signature track—and even Strait himself has called it his favorite song he’s ever recorded.
Ronnie Dunn’s vocals were as strong as ever, and hearing Brooks & Dunn tackle such a sacred country standard felt exactly right. Covering George Strait is no easy task, but true professionals pulled it off with style and reverence. Frankly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Brooks & Dunn honored at the Kennedy Center themselves someday.
The full ceremony airs tonight on CBS and streams on Paramount+. And if this preview is any indication, the complete performance is going to be something special.