Ann Wilson sat gripping her freezing hands backstage, fighting the sudden panic before walking out to cover Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.
Ultimate Guitar reported that the Heart vocalist understood the immense weight of the moment, noting that the cover became a landmark in rock history.
Joined by her sister Nancy Wilson and late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason Bonham, the duo delivered a performance that brought members of Led Zeppelin to tears.
Promoting her biographical documentary “In My Voice,” which receives a wider release on November 25, Ann Wilson told Guitar World that she spent her early years figuratively sitting at Jimmy Page’s knee to master his records. Ultimate Guitar reported that the musician praised Page’s unconventional style, noting that scales and standard methods never factored into his right-brain approach.
Metalwani.com noted that Ann singled out later Zeppelin tracks like “The Crunge” and “No Quarter” as her favorite examples of his experimental guitar work. She also recalled that encountering the band members over the years always carried a heavy, unapproachable gravitas.
Led Zeppelin famously held a strict standard for anyone attempting to cover their catalog, rarely enjoying interpretations by artists who failed to connect with the music. Ann Wilson recalled to metalwani.com that after the 2012 tribute, the surviving band members sat everyone down for what she described as a rubber chicken dinner.
Ultimate Guitar reported that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page expressed genuine delight during the post-show meeting, telling the Wilson sisters that they truly loved the performance. Ann Wilson emphasized that receiving approval from the song’s creators was a massive deal given how many artists fail when covering Zeppelin.
Overcoming severe nerves proved just as challenging as mastering the intricate arrangement. Nancy Wilson revealed in 2021, according to Ultimate Guitar, that her hands froze like icicles right before the rehearsal.
Ann Wilson recalled a final backstage moment where she and her sister exchanged wide-eyed glances on the brink of panic. Ultimate Guitar reported that they deliberately chose to push past the stage fright rather than let it ruin the performance.
Heart performed the iconic cover at the Kennedy Center Honors in December 2012, alongside drummer Jason Bonham.
Her documentary is titled “In My Voice” and receives a wider release on November 25.
She specifically highlighted the later tracks “The Crunge” and “No Quarter” for their unconventional arrangements and experimental structures.
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