Robert Plant’s reaction to Heart’s “Stairway to Heaven” was admiration complicated by his own distance from the song. In a later interview, he called the performance “magnificent” and “spectacular,” but also said he had often felt estranged from “Stairway to Heaven” and described the tribute as a moment of humility rather than simply a display of musical skill.
What did Robert Plant think of Heart’s cover?
Plant praised what he saw and heard, while making clear that “Stairway to Heaven” carried a complicated personal history for him. In excerpts from a retrospective interview with Vulture, reproduced by Blabbermouth on January 6, 2023, Plant said, “But ‘Stairway To Heaven’ has its own life. Later I often felt estranged.”
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He also called Heart’s rendition “a spectacular performance” and said, “It’s just a magnificent performance to watch and it kills me every time.” The exact wording matters: he described the experience as powerful, but did not reduce his response to a straightforward verdict that he simply loved the cover.
Plant characterized the larger presentation as a “we’re not worthy” moment. He said it was not really about “who did a great job,” while adding, “although Ann’s a spectacular singer.” His comments suggest that the tribute’s emotional force came from more than technical performance: it confronted him with the song’s lasting life and his connection to it.
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Why was Plant’s reaction more complicated than applause?
Plant said he had not known exactly what form the tribute would take, although the Kennedy Center had told the honorees to expect one. He described himself as a voyeur, no longer responsible for the song, and said the performance brought back a sense of responsibility. His reflections also touched on the song’s passage through time and the death of John Bonham.
That tension helps explain why “estranged” and “magnificent” can both describe his response. Plant could feel separated from a song that had taken on a life beyond its creators while still being deeply affected by a tribute to it.
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Was Robert Plant moved to tears?
Yes, according to contemporaneous reporting. At the December 2, 2012, Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Led Zeppelin, CBS reported that Plant was visibly misty-eyed and seen wiping tears during Heart’s performance. That is a reporter’s observation of what happened in the room, not Plant’s own explanation of why he reacted as he did. His later remarks offer a more layered account.
What happened during Heart’s Kennedy Center performance?
The Led Zeppelin tribute took place in Washington on December 2, 2012, and aired on CBS later that month. Ann Wilson sang “Stairway to Heaven,” Nancy Wilson played guitar, and Jason Bonham—the son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham—played drums. CBS described the finale as backed by choirs, brass, and strings; the Led Zeppelin official event record also identifies Heart and Jason Bonham in the finale.
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“Stairway to Heaven” was written by Plant and Jimmy Page for Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, released in 1971, according to CBS’s December 28, 2012 report. That background helps explain the song’s place in the tribute; the report is not a recording of Heart’s performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Ann Wilson say about performing it?
Ann Wilson later explained that her main goal was to please Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones—“especially Plant,” whose singing and lyrics had taught her and given her pleasure. In a statement on Heart’s official website, posted December 29, 2012, she called the night a high she would never forget. Her words describe the tribute’s intent; they do not establish Plant’s private feelings.
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