Lena and Kermit

Lena Horne, barrier-breaking actress and singer, died on Sunday at the age of 92.
Horne was the first black woman under contract with MGM in the 40s, but when she was not making movies, Horne sang in Broadway, clubs, TV shows, and radio programs. She had a voice that jazz critic Don Heckman described as "smooth, almost caressing, with its warm timbre and seductive drawl -- honey and bourbon with a teasing trace of lemon." (LA Times).

Horne had a long relationship with Sesame Street, making many appearances on the show. These clips of Horne as she sings with the Muppets are very close to our hearts.

Here is Ms. Horne singing with Kermit the Frog about green:

 
Although we can't aspire to sing as beautifully as Lena Horne, we can still sing along with her and the other Muppets to the Alphabet Song.

 
Lena Horne, you will truly be missed.

Image by Flicker user United Nations Photo using a Creative Commons License.