The rendition carried considerable passion and emotion, although the filmed responses from Led Zeppelin nearly eclipsed the performance itself. Plant watched with tears visible in his eyes, and the members smiled toward one another as if absorbed in memories. Heart was accompanied by a gospel choir whose members put on black bowler hats as a tribute to John Bonham. Jason also had tears in his eyes at the conclusion, yet his drumming never faltered.

A standing ovation followed. Camera shots during the performance showed audience members dancing and singing with the song. Plant later described the moment to L.A. Weekly, recalling that, at 64 and seated beside John Paul Jones, he could scarcely believe the piece being performed had any connection to him. He found himself wondering how he had arrived at that moment.

Plant had declined to perform “Stairway To Heaven” in recent years because it came from his younger self, a person with whom he no longer felt a connection. To him, the song belonged to another period. Ann and Nancy were therefore especially nervous when they met Led Zeppelin afterward, waiting anxiously to learn what the band thought of their interpretation.

Nancy said that the Led Zeppelin members approached them individually during the dinner that followed. Plant explained that he had come to hate the song because it was so often performed badly, but told the sisters they had done well. Page likewise praised Nancy’s playing. The source’s writer regarded that response as the best feedback they could have received and wished they had witnessed the performance.