The highlight
of the night came with Patti LaBelle's soulful performance that encouraged unity
and love. She challenged
the athletes and audience to reach for their dreams and embrace the world around
them. "We are
all God's children," said LaBelle "And we need to learn to live with
one another."

LaBelle, who shed her fur
coat for a ski jacket midway through the concert, shook the stage for 35
minutes with songs from the past three decades. The biggest hit of
LaBelle's career, "Lady Marmalade," also turned out to be the
biggest of the night.*
Earlier, athletes and volunteers danced to
the legendary sounds of Patti LaBelle, who had a little fun with the
crowd. A freezing LaBelle had to run off the stage momentarily to don a
fur coat and scarf, but returned without gloves. *
After expressing how cold she was by
singing "My fingers have frostbite!" during one of her opening
songs, a pair of gloves was thrown on stage from one of the athletes.
*
As the smoke clears, Patti
LaBelle will take the stage for a 40-minute show that is sure to please
and entertain the crowd, Paben said.
*
"If you haven't seen Patti LaBelle's
concert, you really haven't lived because she has such a heart and soul
and such a glorious voice," Paben said. "She is one of the
best entertainers I have ever seen."
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