The night's entertainment included Kid Rock ("Born Free"), Brad Paisley, Mavis Staples and Jonny Lang ("Gotta Serve Somebody"), Darius Rucker ("Together, Anything's Possible") and Reba McEntire ("Everyday People.”)
When Cee Lo Green showed up on stage with an untucked tuxedo shirt and loose bow-tie, it seemed that the gaggle of presidents wasn't quite sure what to make of the singer who's more popular with twenty-somethings than octogenarians. But when Sam Moore joined him for "Soul Man," George H.W. Bush appeared to get into the groove.
Other hits? Some awkward head bouncing indicated that George W. Bush got into Carrie Underwood's performance of "Instant Karma." And Barbara Bush definitely enjoyed Garth Brooks's "Lean on Me," as she single-handedly sparked a standing ovation for the country singer. The night's surprise performance came from Heather Headley, whose singing quickly silenced those in the audience asking, "Heather who?!?" Her rendition of "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" was easily Bill Clinton's favorite performance, and Jeb Bush started a standing ovation when she was finished.
While on stage, Carrie Underwood recounted a favorite story about starfish she once heard the late Ted Kennedy tell in a
speech about volunteerism. Miranda Cosgrove ("iCarly" to the younger set) had to admit that she felt a little bit out of place. "When President Bush first spoke of 1,000 points of light, I was minus four years old," said Cosgrove. "But I heard all about it."
