With emotions already running high at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony after Kelly Clarkson's heartfelt tribute to honoree Reba McEntire, country trio Lady Antebellum took the stage to offer their own rendition of two of McEntire's greatest hits. Before the music began, bandmate Hillary Scott reflected briefly on her personal history with the country icon.

"As a little girl, I was lucky enough to grow up watching Reba side stage. Both my parents toured with her, and my mom, Linda Davis, sang with her on 'Does He Love You'," Scott explained. "I learned so much from Reba. Some things she might not even know she taught me. She taught me that if you're willing to take risks and out-work everyone around you, you will find your place in this business."

With that, the trio launched into "Is There Life Out There," a McEntire hit off of her 1991 album, For My Broken Heart. As that song concluded, Lady Antebellum seamlessly modulated into "The Greatest Man I Never Knew," another ballad off of the same studio project.  A misty-eyed McEntire smiled along from the audience as the trio performed, rising to her feet in a standing ovation at the conclusion of the performance.

The 2018 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony took place on Dec. 2, 2018 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, where it was recorded for television broadcast. The two-hour special aired on Dec. 26 on CBS, and also honored luminaries Cher, Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter and Lin-Manuel Miranda for his work on the musical Hamilton.

Reba McEntire Through the Years

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