Can we talk about Tiffany Haddish‘s Hebrew skills?
The actress impressively leads a sing-along to the famed Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila” in E! News’ exclusive sneak peek at NBC’s new special Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All Star Tribute in honor of the 10th anniversary of the late comedy legend’s death.
“This isn’t a funeral, guys, it’s a celebration, alright?” Haddish tells the live audience in the May 12 preview before instructing the on-stage pianist, “So, Doogie Howser, go ahead and play my music!”
The Girls Trip star then sings the lyrics, “Hava Nagila / Hava Nagila,” which translates to “let’s rejoice.”
Haddish then turns up the heat.
“Alright, ya’ll follow me, okay?” she announces before dropping a beat and passionately going into the next verse, chanting, “Hava neranenah / Hava neranenah / Hava neranenah.” (Which means “let’s sing.”)
Haddish even does a little twerking as she embraces the celebratory lyrics.
The 45-year-old concludes her spicy number with, “Let’s party for Joan for life.”
Haddish won’t be the only famous face paying tribute to Rivers, who passed away in 2014 at 81 years old.
Filmed at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute will feature appearances, musical bits and standup comedy from Rachel Brosnahan, Margaret Cho, Nikki Glaser, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Morgan, Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Silverman, Jean Smart, Rita Wilson, and many more.
And, of course, her daughter Melissa Rivers, who recently revealed a note from her late mother that read, “Given that I’m dead, I assume someone will finally decide to honor me. Well, it’s about time.”
“This tribute is everything my mother would have wanted—hilarious, unfiltered and filled with people she respected (and roasted),” the 57-year-old added in a statement released by NBC. “And as usual, she was still the funniest person in the room. It’s incredibly moving to see so many iconic comedians come together to celebrate her legacy, especially the women whose careers she helped make possible by breaking down so many doors.”
“I know she’d be thrilled to see how far things have come, and she’d still have notes,” Melissa added. “This is more than a tribute. It’s a reminder of the trail she blazed and the joy she brought to so many.”
Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All Star Tribute premieres Tuesday, May 13 at 10 p.m. on NBC and streams next day on Peacock.
Keep reading to see all the comedians and celebs pose with Joan’s urn ahead of the star-studded special.
Aubrey Plaza
Melissa Rivers
Rachel Brosnahan
Rita Wilson
Nikki Glaser
Chelsea Handler
Matteo Lane
Michelle Bueau
Joel McHale
Jeff Ross
(E!, NBC and Peacock are all part of the NBCUniversal family)
