Tony Awards Jennifer Holliday Patti LuPone Betty Buckley-Ken Bertwell 

Jennifer Holliday is the queen of Jawbrato!

One of the BEST Tony Awards openings EVER

That last gasp for air before that “MEEEEE” was and still is recognizable and famous!! That Number will always be the #1 Tony Award performance of all time!👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏽

Jennifer Holliday takes me to CHURCH every single time. You can teach technique and theory, but you can't teach "the gift" into someone. These three ladies are PHENOMENAL.

No one seems to be acknowledging Betty! If you see her in actual character...she will make you cry with this song

I had the pleasure of being in the audience that night. Jennifer sent chills and goose bumps through me. The only one to get a standing ovation.

Jennifer Holiday hands down simply the best of the night

Jennifer Holliday makes me feel in a mix of amazed with her singing and scared with the movement of her jaws

I love Patti to death, she's amazing!! And, wow, did Jennifer smashed that, I got shivers all over, so unreal!

Jennifer Holliday re-etched her name in Broadway history, never EVER to be forgotten, with her performance this evening......

There is more talent on that stage than anyone can comprehend

Still the best opening of the Tony's. WOW Betty was phenomenal, Jennifer OMG and Patti is awesome. Even Rosie did good

Patti LuPone yelling "Good Luck" at the end.

Patti yelling “Yo Tony” gets me every time. And Betty’s smile when Rosie tries to match her singing always makes me giggle.

Love Patti's Merman impression when she says, "BroadWAAAAY!"

This is so smart of the Tony producers - to put together these ladies! These are my three favorites - I can't choose

Jennifer just belted that out of Broadway and into the universe

The three Iconic Grand Dames of Broadway from the 70s and 80s. What a great pleasure and honor for me to see them all.

Jennifer chewed the hell out of that last note but she's still got it! And as for the other two: perfection

I never get tired of watching this over and over again. These are 3 of the best Broadway belters ever, legends all. What I wouldn't give to be in Rosie's shoes lol. She's so slucky to have shared the stage with LuPone, Holiday, and Buckley. They simply don't make Broadway stars like these anymore...

I loved Betty’s dress “Shantay you stay” and that voice! What a legend.

Jennifer Holliday 🔥 so much power

MAN did Betty Buckley rule that...Great!!!

Jennifer killed it for the gods!!!!

Jennifer Holiday is a true Goddess she brought the house to its knees honey! I love Ms.Holiday she is a real diva!!!

WOW Betty still got it even at this age .I saw her in 1984 singing this she is just FANTASTIC..

5:40 that singing though and them faces....i live

Someone needs to re-tool "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" for Buckley and LuPone. Can you imagine?!

Ms Betty Buckley lays it DOWN! She's friggin BRILLIANT!

This is so awesome! Lupone and Holliday after each other? A miracle the stage didn't explode from talent!

One of the best opening numbers ever! All three divas on one stage. Plus, gotta love Rosie when she was in her prime.

Thank God I was THERE this night! - A trio never to be forgotten

my favorite voice of all is the wonderful Betty Buckley. I was lucky enough to see her in Cats in late 1982 at the old Winter Garden theater. What a resonant voice . It just sails and cuts through the air like a knife. It is so thrilling and moving in person. Thanks for sharing this clip.

Patti LuPone - a true star!!! I saw her in Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard and her one woman show in London!!! I was lucky to see Dreamgirls with Jennifer Holliday on Boradway and again in London in a concert! Betty Buckley in Sunset Boulevard in London.... Boy have I lived!!!

miss patti lupone never fails to give me chills. forever a legend

Come on Jennifer! I am obsessed with this woman. She makes it look so effortless.

don't think I'll ever not cry during I Am Telling You

No NPH opening could ever top this

Every now and then I watch this clip but just skip to Jennifer. Cos it's amazing.

I just gay exploded watching this! Thank you for posting, the rainbow just got brighter

What an opening! I'll bet Rosie was in Broadway heaven! Three of the best and powerful voices to ever grace Broadway imo! (yes there are more I know and these are three amongst them)

jennifer holliday the best ...

Jennifer Holiday hands down simply the best

I’m shook, I’m scalped, and I’m exhausted.

I LITERALLY JUST CLAPPED IN FRONT OF MY LAPTOP. ALONE. ALSO, I GAVE JONNIFER HOLLIDAY A STANDING OVATION.. AGAIN, ALONE. a;sldk/dsaldlsa;kd

Jennifer was Awesome!!!!! That voice!!!!!!

Loved Betty Buckley's performance. No comment on LuPone. But seriously, Jennifer Holliday blew everyone right the fuck off that stage.

I have heard Jennifer do that song a million times...and it STILL gives me chills.

Jennifer is brilliant. But I wouldn’t want to be Rosie, following perfection.....

I LOVE all of these women, but I’m obsessed with Betty Buckley! Besides her absolutely AMAZING voice, she puts such feeling in what she sings! I’m a Rosie! Always wished I could sing like that!

This was SERIOUSLY one of the best openings EVER.

I could listen to Jennifer all day.

The Greatest opening of the Tony Awards ever!!!

I've never seen this until now. Wow!!! To have those three woman on stage in a musical number together is a gift to us all.

I loved Rosie! That was a wonderful opening!

love this thanks for sharing and Rosie can carry a tune -- I think she did a wonderful job. All these divas nailed it good!

Her voice was STRONG AF! How the hell she did that !

Patti Lupone ❤❤

Hahaha, i love this opening. Rosie is hilarious and the girls are oh so good in their respective broadway performances. Honorable kudos to the men dancing around rosie...rawr!

i'll never forget this... jennifer.. .omg... loved her.

5:47 gives me life.

Aqui por jennifer holliday. I love J-Holliday´s part ..... AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!

Queen Holiday

Loved all three. Beautiful voices...Heaven sent! Thank you for sharing. ;)

Tony standing ovation is a BIG DEAL. They never stand up for ANYTHING.

A very bright and touching moment for Rosie to be on that stage with these 3 Broadway superstars.

name me something more iconic, Patti and Jennifer really hit different

This clip is a gift! Thank you for posting it.

Rosie O'Donnell is an absolute legend. No one can top her, and here's why: her playing card to fame was that she always was the 'stereotypical rank outsider': not slim, not attractive, not a great singing voice, not the best actress. And yet, she rose to the top of the ladder with her heart, her self depreciation and her love of the arts. She's also a natural entertainer, talker and showgirl, and she knew how to work Hollywood to tailor to her. One of the best Tony openings ever!

Jennifer Holiday is awesome. AND SO IS BETTY. Now what people see in Patti Lupone. Never Understood.....

A whole lotta crazy up on that stage that night.

I love Jennifer Holiday, but I cant help but crack up at her facial expressions.

These types of miracles need to happen more often!!!

So much fun!

Betty freakin Buckley kills it! Love her!

I wish the Tonys would do more openings like this, joyfully celebrating and showcasing why Broadway is so amazing and special, rather than mocking or making light of it and its fans in order to seem cool. Bringing out 3 actual bonafide Broadway stars responsible for some of the most thrilling and iconic performances in musical theater and having them perform those moments is the perfect way to do it, rather than having the host alone or with a chorus, re-doing them. Doesn't have the same effect. This was good to see.

Divas !!!❤️❤️❤️

The beauty of Broadway's Divas.. genuinely pure talents.

THE GREAT DIVAS - LuPone, Holliday and Buckley JUST OUTSTANDING and of course O'Donnell

I love Patty LuPone Jennifer holidays Slayed it.

These women can sing their asses off!

JENNIFER HOLIDAY !!!!! DAMN , Speechless ....xoxo

I was waiting for the confetti at the end... LOL

We’re still talking about that production of Cabaret

Love them all

Jennifer Holliday

Miss Holiday always brings it...although she always looks like she finishing that last bit of biscuit...

Betty, oh I love Betty

THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE THANK MISS J.H

Unbelievable opening. It will never be better than this.

I love the women singing and songs that are amazing and fantastic

If you think jennifer Hudson is over the top I highly suggest you know the character of effie. Prior to singing the sing in the Broadway production she is basically tossed aside by the people she trusted and the man she loves. While carrying his child. She sings it raw like it should be.

This was a great Tony show for performances. I know I recorded it but sure it doesn't look any better than this clip. Thanks for sharing!

Jennifer put some Stank on it lol and we do love you girl

All excellent....but I gotta give it to Ms. Holliday. No one can do what she does and the size/scale of her performance is built for the stage with lots and lots of rows of seats. The rear balcony does not suffer at all despite the distance.

@5:45 I DIED!!!

Go on Jennifer!

Wow! Betty killed it! Her voice is still so powerful and so thrilling!

JENNIFER ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Friggin epic. So good.