k.d. Lang on Carson - Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray 

She is timeless. She not only sings it, she preforms it with such emotion, she makes you feel the pain. Take a lesson all you wanna be singers

K.D. LANG IS STILL ONE THE ALL TIME BEST SINGERS THAT HAS EVER LIVED. I LOVE THIS SONG AND PLAY IT ALL THE TIME.

Absolutely the greatest voice of her generation bar none- power unmatched, riveting stage presence, incredible technique, unbelievable tone... one of , if not, the greatest vocal performance this fella has seen and heard anywhere- Johnny Carson ( and anyone with ears) was blown away by her.

I was watching Johnny with my mother the night he introduced k.d. to the US. We both were awe struck and just looked at each other when k.d. finished singing...we were speechless. Mom's gone now and seeing this makes me feel like she was with me for a moment. Thank you for posting.

Pure, powerful belting. No distracting and overindulgent runs or riffs, thank God. Just steady and solid singing.

Love your story. When I heard her on the tonight show in May 1987 I was in the hospital with my ten year old son and like you and your mom, we too were awed over her voice. My son said that he sure hoped the angels in heaven sang as good as k.d. My son passed away a week later. I always think of k.d.s voice as an angel from heaven. She's the best voice of our generation..Hands Down!

My god - to read these comments from so long ago and to see that you were all affected the same as me all these years later, and on a RU-vid video no less, is just beyond what I can express. I've spent the last few minutes wiping the tears from my face so I could post this. She really touched us all with this one.

there's no better singer alive today than k.d. lang.

In my humble opinion, one of the best voices ever. My favourite of her songs . And I dont smoke

Thirty years later she still sings like an angel.

KD sings this song better than anyone! I like this song only because of her. KD you own it sweetie!!

oh wow ive never heard her sing that before she was fantastic, this woman has got to be at the top of the best female voice of the century

Congrats from my hubby, and I, after you were inducted into, "Canada's Music Hall of Fame," at the Juno's tonight. Keep singing, and we'll all keep smiling. :)

amazing voice

It has been a while since I have seen this video....I remember watching kd Lang the night it was on....and I never saw Johnny Carson so emotional - He had tears in his in eyes when she finished this song...as did half of America..... She is very special...for sure....

F****** fantastic first time I ever experienced this rendition ohmygod

wow! wow! wow! Had never seen this k.d. performance. did she ever kick ass!!!!!! when they talk about a singer being the real thing they could write it in a frame and hang her picture in it. not only that but she's a hell of a songwriter too.

It's true. Johnny was choked up and wiped his eye. He knew he was witnessing something special.

This is the first time I ever heard of K.D. Lang and I've loved her singing ever since.

Wow K D.....this is definitely one of your very best ever!!!!

Damn... My hat is off to this K.D. Absolutely stunning.

always my favourite of hers love her face lighting up at the end she KNEW she nailed itand especially on such an important show for her career

I love it when K.D. Lang covers Patsy Cline. I would like to hear her do "Sweet Dreams".

Franky, I never specifically read anything about Johnny's opinions of kd. But she was on the show more than once:) And let's be serious, how could ANYONE not be MOVED from hearing this angel sing?

I am so glad you posted this. I remember watching the show and you could hear a pin drop. It was absolutely riveting. If I remember correctly she got a curtain call before they cut away to commercial. And she knew she nailed it. Look at her expression at the end. Great Moment! Thanks again posting.

2016 past halfway over and I still come in to watch this AMAZING rendition..over and over..Mind blowingly fantastic...

my scorpio fetish beautiful tone . brings those notes to life with every syllable. she's so beautiful.

Still love this after all these years

I remember seeing this that night. I could have sworn Johnny was wiping a tear from his eye she finished.

MYGOD! i forgot how good she is,,strong yet gentle voice! shes good!

K D just 'blows me away' !!!!!!! BRILLIANT performer and oh boy! what a voice.. :-)

it makes me only wonder what a joy it would have been for k.d. lang and Patsy Cline to have known each other I guess that's what heaven is for

What I say... nothing, perfection in her voice. She is, really the best one.... Thanks for sharing ...

Thank you so much for posting. I love this song. What a voice!!! What a performance!!!

She is a real singer

I was lucky enough to see her at Ontario Place in Toronto; it no longer exists unfortunately but saw some very cool shows there; Smothers Brothers, The Monkees, Mamas and the Papas, etc.

Simply cannot get enough of her music. I LOVE listening to kd lang sing, I. Love. It.

She sang this on Jay Leno. It is what got me hooked on her singing / her music. I really liked Big Bone Gal from Southern Alberta. too funny.

what a voice!

I have wanted to see this performance for the last 20 years.....it has long been touted at k.d's best "three cigarettes" performance ever. But forgot all about it....until now. Thanks so much for posting!

I was up late that night watching Johnny as always. I didn't know K Daddy before then, but became her biggest fan after..

This is truly a great tribute to Patsy Cline! Another great song~~~!

Awesome, I just love her singing, I wish she would do more of this kind of music, with the country beat, she is excellent at it.

Stunning. Goosebumps every time. I wish you showed Johnny Carson's reaction at the end. He was absolutely gobsmacked.

I think a lot of us saw her do this song on the Tonite Show and I think we all had shivers up our spine - I know I was covered in 'goose bumps' and I was crying - I thing Johnny Carson was too!

yup...i remember seeing this too. saw her perform at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit...what a voice.

GOD BLESS KD LANG ! I have loved her singing ever since I heard her sing " LAST CIGARETTE" many years ago. 🎶🎹🎤🎶 🚬👍❤🧡💛💚💖

I remember watching this live. The only time I ever saw Johnny Carson speechless.

Elvis lives and she's gorgeous

DAMN she is great here just mesmerizing --- and was really beautiful -

Wow just wow wow

I am so glad you posted this. I remember watching the show and you could hear a pin drop. It was absolutely riveting. and God Bless Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra.

i love you KD...beautiful

Amazing then and still amazing today. Adore kd - what a talent. Great posting - thank you!

On the dvd collection of her songs "seven years cropped and chronicled"there is a version of this song but when she introduces it she explains that the version she wanted to include on the dvd was not available to her, I can't help wondering if this was the version she was referring to?

Absolutely love this song. She is such a talent.

My God! That`s spine-tingling talent.

No one can touch her.

i remember seeing her perform on carson that night (yes, i'm old :) blew me away.

Oh how I wish that distortion weren't there. Incredible.

the best!!!! love this.

La perfection.

Dear God ! is all I can say...

KD's rendition is much better than Patsy Cline's original. KD delivers more passion, feeling and commitment to the song and its message. You go girl . . .

What a voice!

One of the best and most under-rated voice in the business

Just goes to prove that it doesn't matter the gender of "my love and I". Feelings are just the same.

What an amazing talent . . .

Love her singing!

I saw her on The Nashville Network's "The Nashville Now" show do this song.

Better than clines version

Terriffic!! What a great talent!! Put's the "manufactured and packaged" singers like Britney Spears to complete shame.

great! best regards Dai

The picture's quality is not so important when you see and hear a real miracle - annoying little things instantly disappear under the influence of her magical singing

Such a powerful performance, gives me goosebumps! Much better than Patsy Cline's, this is just impressive!

Johnny was a scorpion, he loved it.:)))))

In the 20th Century there were three female singers with a voice that was unsurpassed...Edith Piaf, Barbra Striesand, kd lang. No female voices more pure than those three.

K-Rose!

Wow.

K.o.

She doesnt have to worry about any woman taking her man

K.d let's smoke some cigs together..

Great great performance. Such a pure and powerful voice. I need a favor, does anyone have video of K.D. Lang's very first performance on The Tonight Show? I think she wore a black skirt with red flowers? I can't find info about it anywhere and I'm constantly craving to see it again. Thanks so much.

Johny Carson just shit himself ... he thought he had seen it all .... NOPE ! never heard a voice like that have you Johny ????

spitting on you is another day

you must have been in heaven.

She sings lovely. But patsy sure could throw her voice with this song. Chk it out. Both lovely but the throw is amazing

I used to think she was hot in the late 80's

Appropriate name.KD..

Ma bulja iskreno, bolja Patsy Cline.

Another deceive to his fans!

She just tries too hard. She can't just let it flow.

orginal is better

Patsy Cline i like K.D.not like

You know all this was meant for Patsy Cline. KD Lang a good rendition, but too much drama. It's just not a natural song for her. But I'm sure she's made plenty of money. No problem there.