But to Raitt’s — and the world’s — astonishment, presenter Jill Biden announced the winner was, in fact, Raitt. Her face, live on TV, registered utter and genuine disbelief.

The 47th Kennedy Center Honors, celebrating the best of American performing arts, honored the Grateful Dead, Francis Ford Coppola, Bonnie Raitt, and Arturo Sandoval.

Raitt was ranked No. 50 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “ 100 Greatest Singers of All Time ” and ranked No. 89 on the magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” ...

Raitt’s 1989 song, which launched her comeback, addressed similar heavy and personal issues. More from Rolling Stone ...