“My Senses Were Overwhelmed”: Adam Lambert Brings Cher to Tears with Stripped-Down “Believe” at the Kennedy Center Honors
In an emotional high point of the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors, vocal powerhouse Adam Lambert brought icon Cher to tears with a radical, orchestral reimagining of her landmark 1998 anthem, “Believe.”
Broadcast on CBS, the tribute celebrated the legendary singer and Oscar-winning actress alongside fellow 2018 honorees Reba McEntire, composer Philip Glass, jazz pioneer Wayne Shorter, and the creators of the Broadway musical Hamilton.
The Performance: Reinterpreting a Pop-Dance Milestone
Rather than matching the fast-paced, electronic pulse of the original club track, Lambert opted for an intimate, orchestral ballad arrangement:
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A Vulnerable Delivery: Accompanied by lush string arrangements and soft piano, Lambert slowed the tempo dramatically, emphasizing the heartbreak and resilience baked into the lyrics.
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Cher’s Reaction: Watching from the presidential box, the 72-year-old superstar was visibly overcome, wiping away tears before mouthing the word “Wow” as Lambert sustained the song’s final operatic climax.
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The Track’s Historic Legacy: Originally released in late 1998, “Believe” spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999, won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, and made history as the pioneering mainstream record to use Auto-Tune as a deliberate vocal distortion effect.
Mutual Admiration: “You’re a Goddess”
The heartfelt rendition prompted a warm exchange between the two artists following the national broadcast:
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Overwhelmed with Emotion: Cher took to social media to share her emotional response to the performance, writing that her “senses [were] overwhelmed.”
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Lambert’s Tribute: Lambert, who previously tackled the song as a contestant on Season 8 of American Idol, responded in kind:“It was a total honor. You’re a goddess.”
An All-Star Salute to an Icon
Introduced by close friend Whoopi Goldberg, Cher’s tribute served as the finale of the ceremony and brought together a wide array of musical styles:
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Cyndi Lauper: Delivered a high-octane rock rendition of 1989’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” before teaming up with Lambert for a celebratory duet of the classic Sonny & Cher staple, “I Got You Babe.”
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Little Big Town: The country vocal group provided an energetic, four-part harmony arrangement of the 1971 hit “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves.”
Political Setting and High-Profile Attendees
The evening proceeded without the traditional participation of the executive branch:
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White House Absence: For the second consecutive year, President Donald Trump declined to attend the ceremony or host the traditional honorees’ reception at the White House, avoiding potential disruptions given the stark political divisions of the era.
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Notable Guests: Dignitaries in attendance in the audience included then-incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.