On May 22, the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors, which honors five people or groups for their contribution to American culture through the arts, took place. Choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, musician Joan Baez, violinist Midori, Dick Van Dyke, and Garth Brooks were selected to be honored this year.
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To honor these incredible legends, Derek Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Pentatonix, Gladys Knight, Emmylou Harris, Jimmie Allen, Yo-Yo Ma, and Kelly Clarkson took the stage for a ceremony that aired on Sunday, June 6th on CBS and is available to stream on Paramount+.
The multi-talented Derek Hough was tasked with paying tribute to Dick Van Dyke and did so with two incredible performances.
Prior to the airing of the special, Hough posted a video of the first time he met Van Dyke, right after his performances.
Hough wrote, “Meeting the man himself. What a pleasure to perform at the @kennedycenter to honor an absolute legend ?? Dick Van Dyke has been entertaining us for decades. And to perform for him on his special night Seeing his face light up during the performance filled me with so much joy. Such an honor.”
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Hough first performed a dancing and singing duet with Broadway star Laura Osnes to “Put On A Happy Face” from Van Dyke’s musical Bye Bye Birdie, which helped him with a Tony Award in 1961 for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.
Performing on an empty stage in the Kennedy Center, the two dancers sang and tap danced to the iconic song from the 1960 musical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pm_srSQvBg
Hough took the stage again with a full dance troupe tp perform an impressive routine to “Step In Time” from the movie musical Mary Poppins. Dressed as chimney sweepers, Hough and company jumped, danced, and paid perfect tribute to Dick Van Dyke.
The performance ended with a cappella group Pentatonix singing the song and Osnes coming out dressed as Mary Poppins with fellow Broadway star Aaron Tviet dressed as Burt.
Watch the rousing “Step In Time” routine in the video below.