The Kennedy Center Honors Lucille Ball (Pt 3 of 3)

Desi Arnaz, who had just died five days earlier following a long bout with cancer, had written a touching statement for this event, which is read here by Robert Stack. (Lucy had to fly almost immediately to Washington following Desi's funeral in order to attend this event.) Lucy struggles to keep her composure, but the mood quickly changes when Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper and Pam Dawber come out for a musical tribute to Lucille Ball -- a musical medley of WILDCAT, MAME and I LOVE LUCY, set to special new lyrics.

"I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had this thing to keep me occupied. Desi died and my show got canceled. If I hadn't had this, if I hadn't this reassurance that I was still wanted, I don't think that I could have gone on." -- Lucille Ball, speaking about the Kennedy Center Honors.

This is the final of three parts. The links to the first two parts are as follows:
PART 1:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Y9b-GBjIdE
PART 2:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5G9GCDU_yK4

For a special eleven-part Lucille Ball tribute of a different sort, check out the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJhBGGx9Nhk

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Lucille
• Ball
• Kennedy Center Honors
• Ronald
• Reagan
• Love
• Lucy
• Desi
• Arnaz
• Bea
• Arthur
• Harper
• Ray
• Charles
• Tribute
• BJV

[TheHollowRose]

"I love lucy was never just a title" that brings tears to my eyes everyone

[XenaAmazon]

RIP Lucy and Desi, Bea Arthur, Robert Stack, Ray Charles, Walter Cronkite, and President Ronald Reagan. Thumbs up if your agree.

[pokergalpoker]

MrVidaeverdade, I often wonder why people like you exist. Do this world a favor, walk in a church right now and cleanse yourself in holy water and if your parents are still alive, go back, put some in a bottle and take it to them and cleanse them for they did a horrid job!!!!

[MrVidaeverdade]

I completely doubt Lucy and Desi are together now because they're both dead. They didn't exist before they were created inside their mothers' wombs, and they don't exist now. The curtains opened on their lives, then they closed. But even if that weren't the case, I'm not sure I understand your comment about Gary being with his last wife because she's still alive.

[FranklyMyDearTV]

I'm drowning in my tears right now. :'(

[pokergalpoker]

Lucy ALWAYS LOVED Desi....Gary was companionship and loyal. It must've been difficult for him to hear that letter. No doubt in mind that Lucy is with Desi right now. Gary remarried after the death of Lucy. He is with her.

[jess00821]

I love Lucy and I love Bea :)

[egogo816]

Thumps up for everyone except Ronald Reagan...:/...nothing personal or political

[downtonabbeyfreak]

I don't know how she held back those tears. she loved him so much and he had only died 6 days earlier :(

[oldsoul562]

@procommenter just die.thanks

[msdemos]

Anybody else here get the feeling that that night probably seemed a bit like "The Kennedy Center Honors Lucille Ball............and the rest!" (insert Gilligan's Island theme song, HERE ).

No disrespect for ANY of the other talented people being honored then.......but come on, if you happened to be receiving this prestigious honor, would YOU want to be the guy/gal unlucky enough to (try to) follow Lucy ???

There's a reason America, and many people around the world, Love Lucy!!!

[maleficentdiva]

Lucy was so happy during that song Bea Arthur sang, that was so beautiful, We all STILL love you Lucy we miss you so much!!!!