Karen Fairchild, Reba McEntire, Kimberly Schlapman at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Christopher Polk/Variety/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment The 2025 Emmys paid tribute to several beloved series on Sunday night. Amid cast reunions for Gilmore Girls, the Law & Order franchise and others, the show honored The Golden Girls on what was the 40th anniversary of the beloved NBC comedy's premiere, on Sept. 14, 1985. Reba McEntire and Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman took the stage to pay tribute to the show by singing the iconic theme song, "Thank You for Being a Friend." They performed in front of a re-creation of the show's also-iconic kitchen set - where the four women, played by late actresses Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty - would gather to talk about their lives, their loves and more. Related Stories TV Nate Bargatze's Boys & Girls Clubs Emmys Bit Was Not as Bad as You Think Movies Oscars: Brazil Picks Wagner Moura's 'The Secret Agent' as Best International Feature Submission As McEntire appeared on stage, she pointed to a photo of the four stars hanging on the wall and said: "Singing it for the girls." "It was an instant classic," Emmys host Nate Bargatze said in introducing the performance. "It was a little edgier than people might remember. Growing up, I was not allowed to watch the Blanche parts," he added, referring to the show's most risqué character, played by McClanahan. The trio then presented the award for best supporting actress in a comedy series, which went to Hannah Einbinder for her performance in Hacks. The Emmys tribute follows on the heels of another 40th anniversary tribute to the comedy series over the summer. That event, which was part of the monthlong Pride LIVE! Hollywood festival, made headlines as creatives opened up about the bitter feud between Betty White and Bea Arthur. (The Hollywood Reporter was the presenting media sponsor of Pride LIVE! Hollywood.) The 2025 Emmys aired live on CBS and Paramount+. See the full list of Emmy winners and the red carpet arrivals. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up NFL 'Monday Night Football' Livestream: When and Where to Watch Tonight's NFL Doubleheader Online Stephen Colbert Inside the Emmys: Six Things You Didn't See on TV Seth Rogen Nate Bargatze's Boys & Girls Clubs Emmys Bit Was Not as Bad as You Think Live Feed Charlie Hunnam Goes Full-on 'Monster' in Haunting Official Trailer for 'The Ed Gein Story' Stanley Tucci Stanley Tucci to Join NBC for Coverage of 2026 Winter Olympics united kingdom Channel 4 to Mark Trump's U.K. Visit With "Longest Uninterrupted Reel of Untruths Ever Broadcast on Television" NFL 'Monday Night Football' Livestream: When and Where to Watch Tonight's NFL Doubleheader Online Stephen Colbert Inside the Emmys: Six Things You Didn't See on TV Seth Rogen Nate Bargatze's Boys & Girls Clubs Emmys Bit Was Not as Bad as You Think Live Feed Charlie Hunnam Goes Full-on 'Monster' in Haunting Official Trailer for 'The Ed Gein Story' Stanley Tucci Stanley Tucci to Join NBC for Coverage of 2026 Winter Olympics united kingdom Channel 4 to Mark Trump's U.K. Visit With "Longest Uninterrupted Reel of Untruths Ever Broadcast on Television"