Dionne Warwick made a surprise appearance during Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle‘s Verzuz battle on Sunday night, as the trio performed their song “Superwoman.”
Gladys and Patti, both 76, faced off during the social media clash, performing their respective hits, as 600,000 viewers tuned in for their battle, including Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson.
The musical powerhouses delighted fans with their vocal talents and their good natured exchange between songs.
But it was Dionne’s appearance at the end of the clash that drew the most attention, with the 79-year-old joining Gladys and Patti to perform “Superwoman” – their 1991 single – and “That’s What Friends Are For,” which Dionne won the Grammy for song of the year and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals in 1986.
“I haven’t seen you guys in so long,” Dionne commented as she joined Gladys and Patti on stage.
Other notable points during the evening included Patti kicking off her shoes to perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and also saying, “We all have to vote. Period, pooh.”
The phrase comes from Black ghey slang and has gained popularity, thanks to hip-hop star Jaydawayda releasing a song called “Period Pooh” in 2019.
Gladys and Patti also gave shoutouts to Michelle Obama, saying she will be the next Black president.
Black Twitter reacted enthusiastically to the battle on Sunday. Many of them weren’t born when the songs were released on vinyl and then CDs.
Thank you all for joining us. It was truly a blessing to be with you! #Verzuz @MsPattiPatti
— Gladys Knight (@MsGladysKnight) September 14, 2020
Young Gladys & Nat King Cole #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/Nn6Kl7WYpF
— TauVaughn (@1FlawedKid) September 14, 2020
You Are My Friend #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/NKR9QX9Aut
— Gigi Smith (@Daisy5730) September 14, 2020
If older Black women don't do nothing else, they gon give God some glory.
— Big K.R.I.S. (@BELLEionaire) September 14, 2020
My very soul is full.
I need someone to tell @MsGladysKnight and @MsPattiPatti how many people were watching and how they restored our credit, replenished our edges and left a sweet potato pie in the oven through their voices and stories. #Verzuz
— April (@ReignOfApril) September 14, 2020
— Peaches (@slaybutterbaby) September 14, 2020
I really would like y’all to stop suggesting white ppl for #Verzuz. We good, they good. Let’s showcase OUR songs and OUR artists! Why y’all pulling every white artist you ever liked into our business? Let us have this, damn!
— Bath & Bella Works ??? (@brownandbella) September 14, 2020
Still thinking about this and trying to carry this mood for rest of 2020:
Patti – Sometimes I over sing
Gladys – No you don't!
Patti – But, it's the gift God gave me#Verzuz— Ayesha Rascoe (@ayesharascoe) September 14, 2020
#Verzuz trending over the NFL tho… please don’t ever let anyone tell you Black women don’t move the world!!
— Nina Parker (@MzGossipGirl) September 14, 2020
We did not deserve this. I am deeply grateful on a personal level for this reprieve tonight. #Verzuz
— Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) September 14, 2020
Thank you @verzuzonline ?? This platform has allowed us to enjoy the soundtrack to our lives while also showing APPRECIATION to those artist who have put out TIMELESS Music for DECADES! It’s like History in Music hearing the BTS stories is so AMAZING?
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) September 14, 2020