The holiday season is a time of big dreams, which don’t always go according to plan. That's something to keep in mind while you watch the above video from the 1996 White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony, in which American legend Patti LaBelle is welcomed to the stage to perform Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." It becomes clear very quickly that the stage was not ready for her; her background singers are nowhere to be seen, her cue cards are not in the right order. It's pretty much absolute chaos for three minutes, and poor Patti is left up there to fend for herself.
But like a distracted host with a burnt Christmas ham on their hands — or just the hero she is — Patti picks up the pieces and muscles through with total charisma. This winter, may we all be so blessed.
