In 2013, Kelly Clarkson put out a Christmas special on NBC called Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Tale, which was a musical comedy special loosely based on A Christmas Carol. On the show, Clarkson gave performances of various holiday classics and interacted with guests like Blake Shelton, Robin Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg.

One of the musical performances was a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night” with Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire. Taking the stage at The Venetian Las Vegas, Clarkson performed wearing a gorgeous red dress for the holiday season. After the first verse, Trisha Yearwood joined Clarkson on stage to excited cheers from the audience.

Yearwood took the second verse of “Silent Night,” complementing Kelly Clarkson’s smooth, round vocals with her brighter, country voice. Clarkson joined on a secondary vocal part, accentuating the simple song with her additional arrangement. Throughout the performance, Clarkson looked to Yearwood in awe, as if she was gazing up at one of her heroes. She might have been—one charming thing about Kelly Clarkson is sometimes she seems to forget she’s also a celebrity, and she often gets starstruck.

 

Reba McEntire Joins Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood in “Silent Night” Performance

The audience erupted once again when Reba McEntire joined the stage, standing with Clarkson and Yearwood before taking a third voice. Clarkson and Yearwood added their vocals to McEntire’s distinct voice to complement her.

McEntire took “Silent Night” to new heights with her signature vocal style—warm, full, and twangy. The three then huddled together to harmonize beautifully. The music stopped, and Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, and Trisha Yearwood sang a cappella for a moment, blending their voices seamlessly. They ended the piece that way, with Clarkson standing out as the belter of the group. Still, altogether, they meshed wonderfully.

They came together for a group hug, with Kelly Clarkson gesturing to Yearwood and McEntire. It’s as if she was saying, “can you believe that I’m on stage with these two right now?” McEntire has long been an inspiration for Clarkson. The two performed together for the first time right after Clarkson won American Idol. Ten years later, she performed “Silent Night” with McEntire here. Ten more years, and we’re watching this throwback once again.