P!nk and Kelly Clarkson Honor First Responders with Emotional American Music Awards Duet

The two opened the show with a duet of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," dedicated to first responders who have rushed into some of the year's most horrific events, including floods, hurricanes and shootings. With some of those servicemen and women on stage, the duo sang as a photo montage played behind them.

"This woman has a direct line to outer space with that voice," P!nk tweeted before the show. "I feel lucky to stand next to her when she sings. Tonight will be an honor for me @kelly_clarkson #AMAs2017"

Clarkson echoed those sentiments, tweeting, "If anyone was wondering what @Pink is like in person, she's the greatest human ever and I love her even more now after meeting/singing with her at #AMA's rehearsal 😊 ....can't wait for y'all to see our silk routine tomorrow."

The duet got a standing ovation.

Jamie Foxx introduced the number, stressing the importance of music to "help us escape the news of the day" in 2017. "We needed that power of music to help us heal, form hurricanes, wild fires, hate, hatred fueled violence," he said. "2017 was a year that tested our faith."

"We look forward to 2018 with hope, for even as we mourn those who were lost, we know this: Together our strength will pull us through, together we shall overcome the pain, together we can unite as a people and a nation," he added, before the two women came out to perform.