Vanessa Williams receives Lena Horne award.

In 1996, Vanessa gets the Lena Horne award and a greeting from the Lady herself. It is a nice moment; and unique because I do not know of another instance where Horne publicly expressed (sincere) admiration for a young(er) female performer. Of course, Williams has the same hard-as-nails exterior as Miss Horne -- no tears, no apologies, no nervous breakdowns, no self-destructive drama and no Oprah-style personal confessions. In her career, Williams is strictly business, completely unflappable, poised, polished and controlled, exhibiting only the slightest twinge of bitterness. Tough on the outside, God only knows what on the inside -- just like Horne.

[@laarbe]

Vanessa is beautiful, classy, sophisticated, talented and elegant. She is a triple Threat. To carry on after Lena Horne is no small thing. But Vanessa Williams can do it.

[@laarbe]

Vanessas pulled herself up after a terrible thing and made a wonderful life and career after. Lena opened many doors for many of us. She was a pioneer.

[@LisaGemini]

She also has a lot of class, according to a session musician I once interviewed. He had worked with her. She has a beautiful soul, which is the true measure of a person.

[@LightLeadingMe]

Ahhhh Vanessa's speech almost made me cry. The part about keeping her in your prayers made me tear up. She's an amazing woman.

[@thechameleon808]

Ms. Lena Horne, Ms. Vanessa Williams....two fantastic examples of the strength and beauty of women of color, and women in general. Sky is the limit...overcoming obstacles, and the courage to keep pushing yourself, to keep on going even when the odds are stacked up against you no matter what.

[@IAMMOVIN4WARD]

wow, i remember watchin this & bein so happy for vanessa...what an honor relatively early in her career

[@alexanderpacheco7428]

Totally well deserved. To the most beautiful and talented woman who ever graced God's green earth, Vanessa Williams.

[@mr.tennessee1987]

After all these years growing up watching this amazing woman I finally realize why I love her so much! 😢😢😢❤

[@DomoniqueStewart3936]

VANESSA L. WILLIAMS, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, GIRL.....SO VERY MUCH..... FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. 🙂👍✌️❤️😊🥰😘🎥📀📼🎞️🎬🍿🎤🎼🎵🎸

[@collinsgreenlee1673]

Her reaction at 1:26 said it all! OMG!

[@kaitlynac]

young Vanessa...

[@mulattamonroe]

This is my favorite youtube clip!

[@DaxShaw]

OMG BronzeVenus you're completely right about Vanessa and Lena's personalities, though I must say Lena was a better singer than Vanessa. Vanessa is good but Lena was the Queen

[@MikeScott-ez7iw]

Yo
You should stupid

[@charlita25]

Very illustratrous woman

[@esthersicard1228]

why did you cut out arnold swargzenegars speech.

[@DomoniqueStewart3936]

HEY, BUDDY. YOU MEAN SCHWARZENEGGER, RIGHT?

[@collinsgreenlee1673]

Does anyone have Vanessa's live performance of La Vie En Rose? I had it many, many years ago on VHS. I saw a clip from it in this video @ 2:34.

[@arkeitafubler]

Look up ‘Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985)’ she enters around the 1:00:00 mark. It’s posted by reelblack.

[@leplaq]

@MasterGTALoquendo yes thats Queen latifah

[@FatBabyCheeks]

I LOVE TH-cam!!!!!

[@mulattamonroe]

This is my favorite youtube clip!