"It's a big honor to sit with these people and get to play for Billy," said Garth Brooks backstage at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles last night. Brooks was one of the acts on hand to salute Billy Joel and kick off Grammy week, as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honored the piano man with their 2002 MusiCares Person of the Year award.

Before an audience of about 3,000, including Beck, as well as Brooks' fellow performers Nelly Furtado, Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora, Rob Thomas, Stevie Wonder, and many others, the show was an impressive one indeed. Over the course of two hours, eleven artists -- plus host Paul Reiser -- performed their favorite Joel songs, from Natalie Cole's jazzy version of "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" to surprise guest Melissa Etheridge doing "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me." Reiser, meanwhile, took a shot at "Every Year is a Souvenir."

Everybody was in the mood to talk about Joel, including Don Henley, who performed "She's Got a Way," and recalled first meeting Joel when he opened for the Eagles in 1973. "I remember being impressed with his piano playing, his musical virtuosity," Henley said. "I have a lot of respect for Billy because he's created a body of work that has made an impact all over the world and he has followed his conscience. I admire anybody who says, 'I'm tired of pop music. I'm going to do classical music.' If I had the talent I would do the same thing because classical music is about the only thing I can stand to listen to anymore. Although I hope and pray and I think Billy will come back around to writing some pop songs before it's all said and done and hopefully I can write some with him."

During his acceptance speech, Joel alluded to the possibility of writing more pop songs. He said all it would take was the passion to write those songs. As to where he thought he would find that passion, he said, "Nicole Kidman." After professing his admiration for the gorgeous redhead in front of 3,000 people, Joel laughed, "I'm hardly ever in L.A. I've got to take a shot."

Performers at the tribute:

Rob Thomas, "Only the Good Die Young"
Nelly Furtado, "All for Leyna"
Stevie Wonder, "Just the Way You Are"
Diana Krall, "And So It Goes"
Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora, "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
Don Henley, "She's Got a Way"
Natalie Cole, "Leave a Tender Moment Alone"
Richard Joo, Piano selections
Melissa Etheridge, "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me"
Paul Reiser, "Every Year Is a Souvenir"
Garth Brooks, "Goodnight Saigon"
Tony Bennett, "New York State of Mind"

STEVE BALTIN
(February 26, 2002)