Retro Rewind: Diva Mic Toss At Oprah’s “Legends Ball”

Published: Sunday 31st Mar 2013 by Rashad

(Start at :40)

Shortly before talent-devoid “divas” dominated charts with their brand of EDM or autotune-assisted fly-by-night hits (see: Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and oh na na what’s her name), 2006 saw an assembly of legendary divas gathered to be honored by Queen of Talk Oprah Winfrey.

Indeed, it would take someone with Winfrey’s stature to unify Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, and so many other legendary female entertainers and activists (Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, etc) for one worthy cause. Uniting for what was christened ‘The Legends Ball’, living legends lent their talents and stories for a group of distinguished guests including some of today’s top performers (Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and more).

Despite the absence of noted divas Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, and more, the three-day event (filmed for an ABC special) still won praise from viewers – especially its gospel themed finale.

With gospel hitmaker Bebe Winans at the helms, the ladies kicked off an impromptu “mic toss” where the singers showcased their gifts to the inspirational classic ‘A Wonderful Change’. Press PLAY above to see divas in action who earned the titling from their talent and not fashion accessories (note: no pitching correcting/modifying machines were on site).

Your thoughts?

 

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  1. king z March 31, 2013

    first off rihanna could never. ashanti would never. and no shade, but janet could never either. lol im sure she had her trusty backing track on deck in the event they passed her the mic.

    *in my Janet voice*. “Jesus is in Control!”, “Jesus it’s all for you…”, or “doesn’t really matter what the others say, Lord I’ma praise you anyway”.

    • VANNY March 31, 2013

      DEAD* @ “trusty backing track on deck” i love me some janet! but i can picture her sticking her hand in her purse and hitting play as soon as they would of passed her that mic… lol

  2. ThatRIHANNAjuice March 31, 2013

    ^^^ @king z…i know rihanna got u pressed. either way, this was nice. i remember watching this as a kid wondering why whitney wasn’t there.

    we all know why Bey wasn’t there…O didn’t want her swinging that matted, lice-ridden weave on the REAL legends. (and howling like a prairie dog like she does in most of her live performances). While you’re dropping “notes” sam, NOTE: beyonce was absent. alicia keys was there

    • Riqueen March 31, 2013

      YASS

  3. SLAYRIAH CAREY (SUPERIOR DIVA) March 31, 2013

    “Despite the absence of noted divas Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, and more,”

    Does someone want to tell me what’s wrong or odd about that statement.

    • king z March 31, 2013

      what’s odd about it? they were absent. alot of ppl complained. but overall the show was still good. that’s how i read it

  4. Holy Hive March 31, 2013

    Irrelevant old b****** Sam why you post this

  5. TheUltimate March 31, 2013

    LOL @ Ken doll Mitt Romney @ the 3:35 mark.

  6. my forehead tho March 31, 2013

    Imagine the amount of struggle there would be if Oprah did this same thing with this generation of singers. The only vocalist that would slay would be Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, and Jennifer Hudson.

    *Remembers Rihanna’s attempt at Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero’*

    • king z March 31, 2013

      lol trust me there would be no “struggle” by today’s generation of singers. because all they woulda had to do was PRESS PLAY and then lip synced for their lives!

    • Tika April 1, 2013

      The only ones who would be able to carry this off would be Fantasia, Tamar, and maybe Jennifer Hudson. I’m not saying that to mean that they’re great singers but the fact that this is an old gospel song. There was a reason all of those women knew the song and the right chords they all grew up in church singing it. Everyone you mentioned except for Jennifer would have no frame of reference to participate.

  7. DOSSOME March 31, 2013

    Back when Oprah was relevant and she didn’t have to kiss Bieber’s ass to boost ratings

  8. mc the place to be!! March 31, 2013

    2006? beyonce was just now getting to that BIG solo fame sam damn and im happy she wasn’t on there shes just not humble she pretends to be humble!

  9. VANNY March 31, 2013

    i love me some janet! but i can picture her sticking her hand in her purse and hitting play as soon as they would of passed her that mic… lol

  10. jesse March 31, 2013

    Awesome!!! True divas.

  11. The Truth March 31, 2013

    Perfect ending with PATTI PATTI she wasn’t playing. Only new diva that sang was Yolanda Adams lol.

  12. TeamBreezy March 31, 2013

    Why Janet aint grab the mic tho ?

    • Marcus April 1, 2013

      LOL same reason why Diana aint grab it. I love my queens Janet and Diana but they are not known for sangin in the church. And Beyonce wasn’t there because she was not big enough yet., Ashanti was the it R@B girl.

      • B April 1, 2013

        Girl Bye! Ashanti was R&B it girl, you know this was 2005 right? By that time Ashanti was already losing steam and barely hanging on to be relevant. The reason Beyonce wasn’t there is because she was on a world tour with Destiny Child’s, so she couldn’t have made it to the event. You know Oprah loves her some Beyonce, so please believe she would have been there if she could. Who know why Whitney wasn’t there, probably somwhere high or chasing the King of R&B Bobby(side eye)!

  13. King. March 31, 2013

    Aunt Patti showed out.

  14. Mother Mariah March 31, 2013

    I am not the most religious person, but jeez that made me tear up a bit. Reminded me of sitting on my Grannys lap on Sunday morning. All of the good singing, her humming and shouting…. 🙂 Memories. 🙂

  15. Navy Nick March 31, 2013

    (really 1st comment: dissing people?) keep that negativity outta here! NOW THIS WAS AMAZING! REAL SANGIN!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!

  16. just sayin’ March 31, 2013

    people hating on this post, tgj trying to start something by saying who was not there….that misses the entire point of this gathering. ultimate low to say anything hateful or start comparing or stan wars. sad

  17. tribaljudas April 1, 2013

    Spectacular. This was simply just spectacular!

  18. Loso April 1, 2013

    Can we have one freaking post without the negativity! Yal take away from what the video was suppose to portray! When I saw this for the first time back then I won’t lie I got teary eyed! This was amazing. I can only imagine how they felt meeting these honorable women all for the first time! Must have been overwhelming !

  19. princely86 April 1, 2013

    That was beyond awesome and inspiring. I know the moment Patti was handed the mic the house was getting ready to be boarded up and shut down. *replay*

  20. StarrKick April 2, 2013

    oh come the f*** on, Beyonce’?
    its was calls the “Legends Ball” Bey was no where near that status at the time of the legends ball! FOH

    lame ass reaching stans!

  21. powder makeup reviews May 15, 2013

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  22. Sherry Johnson December 20, 2017

    I want a photo in my home that only not to remind me but to remind everyone even my 5 year old daughter who walks into my home to know that I am a black women and I am truly proud and able do anything God has planned for me it just amazing that Ms. Oprah has such an open and beautiful mind thanks for such a wonderful reminder of how amazing it is to look in the mirror.

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