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Weird Al and a 13-year-old girl duet on a moving rendition of ‘Yoda’

What were you doing when you were 13?

 

Audra Schroeder

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Posted on Mar 9, 2015   Updated on May 29, 2021, 8:47 am CDT

Last night, Jon Stewart hosted Night of Too Many Stars, an autism charity and awareness event. It had everything: Maya Rudolph dry-humping a man who appeared to be in his 90s, Paul Rudd being fed like a baby bird, and Chris Rock shilling for Tommy Hilfiger. But the “Weird Al” Yankovic performance might have been the most touching of the night.

His song “Yoda,” a parody of the Kinks’ “Lola,” was originally released in 1985. Thirteen-year-old Jodi DiPiazza, a musician with autism, wasn’t even alive then, but that didn’t stop her from nailing a duet with Yankovic. 

DiPiazza is a musical prodigy, and she performed “Firework” with Katy Perry at 2012’s Night of Too Many Stars. She returned last night to accompany Yankovic—who was dressed as a Jedi, of course—on piano. 

The Actionplay Chorus, a group of kids with autism, joined them for the big finale. In a night filled with comedians’ bits and schticks, it was a moving reminder of who should really be in the spotlight. 

Screengrab via Comedy Central

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*First Published: Mar 9, 2015, 1:34 pm CDT