It admittedly doesn't come close to her ladies' room rant about her sister-in-law, but CNN Newsroom anchor Kyra Phillips experienced another oops moment Wednesday. She devoted almost seven minutes to interviewing singer Stevie Wonder. The musician was awarded the Gershwin Prize, and Wednesday evening would be honored in the White House. So she let Stevie enthusiastically speak of someone she also deeply admires, Barack Obama:
PHILLIPS: And as we wrap this up and take it on to the next hour, I know Obama has inspired you tremendously on many different levels. Tell us why.
WONDER: He really echoes the spirits of so many voices that have come before him, talking about bringing us together as a united people of the United States of America. And to live in a time and space where we have a second chance to really make this, again, the great country that we deserve to always be. And I'm just very, very proud to have said to him about five years ago, when he was running for senator, I said, you know, I know that this is what you want to do and this is what your goal is for Illinois. But I really believe that if we pray on this, you'll become the president of the United States. And so we prayed in my studio, at Wonderland Studios. And then here we are in 2009. It's a wonderful thing.
The anchor congratulated Wonder again and then wrapped up her interview:
PHILLIPS: Yes, you are. And he's still got the innocent baby smile. Stevie, great to see you. Come back and see us again, OK?
Wonder, of course, has been blind since birth and sadly won't be able to come back and see Phillips. (Her comment comes at the 6:37 mark on the YouTube video).
Still, it's understandable how a gal could get befuddled while hearing rapturous praise about The One. So it's OK, Kyra. Don't you worry 'bout a thing.
