Clarkson and Pink aren’t two names many people would typically put together while describing their dream musical duet. The pair brought down the house, though, when they teamed up for an absolutely spectacular performance covering R.E.M.’s song “Everybody Hurts” in honor of all of the first responders and heroes who emerged during the toughest of times.
The pair were introduced by actor and musician Jamie Foxx at the American Music Awards in 2017 and explained that their ballad had been decided upon as a way to raise awareness for all of the heroes who had helped the world through hurricanes, senseless violence, and tragedy.
“We needed that power of music to help us heal [this year]. From hurricanes, wildfires, hate, hatred-fueled violence—2017 is the year that tested our faith. At these moments of crises, heroes emerge,” he said. “As this year comes to a close, we look forward to 2018 with hope ... TOGETHER our strength will pull us through.”
From there, Pink and Kelly Clarkson silenced the audience with a chills-inducing rendition of the 1992 R.E.M. hit, which managed to be absolutely perfect for their harmony—even as a song that didn’t seem to fit what either of them would typically sing. And from the resounding praise they received on social media to the adorably uplifting props they gave each other both before and after the fact, it served as a voice of calm among the storm that was the 2017 calendar year.
That 12-month period brought everything from natural disasters to man-made tragedy, truly testing both the world and the American spirit specifically. From the Las Vegas mass shooting to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the rise of the #MeToo movement, 2017 was tough on everyone both physically and emotionally. Add in that the 2017 California wildfire season was the deadliest on record up to that point, and it made for a year that many struggled to process.
In many of those instances, it was largely thanks to first responders and unsung heroes that communities were able to emerge triumphant. From the Louisiana boat owners who brought their “Cajun Army” to rescue Houston residents from historic flooding to the firefighters in California and the concert-goers who sheltered others in Las Vegas, hundreds of lives were saved thanks to the heroes who helped throughout everything.
It was certainly a nice treat to hear Clarkson and Pink, two of the strongest female vocalists of their generation, together in duet. But it certainly made it all the more special that they didn’t just get together to sing—they got together to sing for others.
