Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire have made it no secret that they love and respect each other as artists, women, and relatives.

Kelly admired Reba long before meeting her, and in a short amount of time, they went from being industry friends to in-laws after she tied the knot with her manager Brandon Blackstock, who happens to be Reba's stepson.

Though Reba's relationship with Brandon's father, Narvel Blackstock, ended in divorce, she and Kelly have remained close. The pair collaborated for a CMT Crossroads performance in 2007, and embarked on a joint North American tour the following year.

"Kelly and I got to tour together in 2008, it was one of the most exciting, fun tours I've ever been a part of... you know, I love her to pieces," Reba said on The Talk a few years ago. "She's been one of my best friends since I met her in 2002, now she's my daughter-in-law. She's a wonderful person, big-hearted, always full of joy and laughter."

Seeing how important the singers are to each other, it only made sense for Kelly to be picked to pay tribute to Reba during the recent Kennedy Center Honors.

The American Idol winner brought the house down as she performed a cover of Reba's 1990 hit "Fancy," after delivering a heartfelt speech that left many in the audience feeling emotional.

"I've been a fan of Reba since I was a little girl," Kelly said. "Her voice has always felt nostalgic for me. Even as an adult, there's something about her tone and her storytelling that just feels like home. Sometimes when we meet our heroes, it doesn't always pan out how you hope. But meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life, truly."

Holding back tears, Kelly thanked the country superstar for "listening to me vent as an artist," and for "comforting me on the phone through my tears like a friend."

"And thank you for being a really rad grandma to my kids. I love you so much. I hope you enjoy this song. Don't judge me."

Kelly's fantastic performance ended in a standing ovation from both Reba and the audience. You can watch the entire video below.

What did you think of Kelly's performance and speech? Let us know in the comments!