Kenny Loggins stopped by The Tonight Show to showcase a medley of his songs on classroom instruments alongside Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. Kevin Bacon stepped in midway through the performance to help with a buoyant rendition of “Footloose.” (Rolling Stone report)
The lively performance, featuring toy guitars, xylophones, and kazoos, included renditions of “I’m Alright,” “Danger Zone,” Footloose,” and “Celebrate Me Home.”
John Lithgow channeled his Footloose character, Reverend Shaw Moore, to interrupt the performance midway through to proclaim, “Now wait a minute. Everybody listen to me. I object to this kind of music. It’s illegal in this building.” Bacon, channeling his own character, stepped in and replied, “Jump back. Hey, I thought this was supposed to be a party. Let’s dance!”
Loggins wrote multiple songs for hit movies in the 1980s, including “Danger Zone” for Top Gun. The Tom Cruise film is celebrating its 40th this year. Last year, Donald Trump used the iconic song in an apparently AI-generated video of him dumping shit on “No Kings” protesters, which Loggins quickly protested.
“This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone,’” Loggins said in a statement. “Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.” He added, “I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us.”
Earlier this year, Loggins was announced as one of the inductees to the Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2026. Loggins is being honored alongside Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Kiss’ Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Terry Britten & Graham Lyle, and Walter Afanasieff. The induction ceremony takes place tonight at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
