![Celine Dion's hit song from 1994 was the center of this missed "Jeopardy!" clue.](https://i0.wp.com/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/01/29/USAT/78018411007-usatsi-15352053.jpg?ssl=1)
A “Jeopardy!” contestant walked off the stage after missing a clue about Celine Dion, but we’re sure his heart will go on from the mistake.
Drew Goins, a writer for Washington Post Opinions from Honolulu, was recently on the Champions Wildcard tournament of “Jeopardy!” when he missed a clue about Celine Dion, who he thanked during his introduction.
“John, the producer, suggested, long story, that I thank Celine Dion,” Goins said before showing his gratitude to the famous pop icon. “So, thank you, Celine Dion.”
Later, during the game, a question about Dion popped up, leaving the contestant stunned and at a loss for words.
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What was the clue?
The clue was under the “’90s No. 1 hits” category for $2,000.
“Sharing its title with an earlier, more upbeat Huey Lewis hit, it was number one for Celine Dion in 1994,” “Jeopardy!” host, Ken Jennings, read the clue out loud.
With his hand on his forehead and a shocked smile on his face, Goins stuttered.
“Uh oh,” Jennings said before the buzzer went off, signifying the time to answer the question was up.
Goins then put down his buzzer and walked off the stage. But, the frazzled contestant’s mistake earned him a hug from fellow “Jeopardy!” contestant Mehal Shah when he returned seconds later.
The answer to the clue: What is “The Power of Love?”
Regardless, Goins had a pretty good excuse for flubbing the answer:
“I was born in 1994,” he said.
This wasn’t Goins’ first ‘Jeopardy!’ error
In September 2024, Goins competed in “Jeopardy!” and received a clue about a Taylor Swift album.
“The First of Taylor Swift’s record 4 [Album of the Year] Grammys was for this album in 2010,” was the clue under the category Grammys for $800.
The answer: What is “Fearless”?
Goins, unfortunately, got it wrong, even though his brother prepped him on a practice board that was only Swift clues.
After making the mistake, Goins “went home worried that the Swifties would come rip me out of my bed,” he said during his next “Jeopardy!” appearance on Jan 6.
But don’t worry. He redeemed himself when he got the answer right for this Swift clue under “Albums”: “In 2014, Taylor Swift gave us this album named for a different year.”
“What is 1989?!” Goins excitedly shouted when he buzzed in the answer, adding $200 to his score.
‘hi! I’m the problem! it’s me!!!’
The contestant took it all with the best sportsmanship, even cracking jokes on social media.
On Instagram, “Jeopardy!” posted a video with a clip of Goins’ first Swift blunder from September, immediately followed by his vindication with his correct answer from January.
“It’s me, hi! I’m the problem! it’s me!!!” Goins commented on the post, quoting Swift’s song “Anti-Hero” from the album “Midnights.”
Here’s to hoping that Goins gets a similar redemption arc with another Dion clue.
Contributing: Charles Curtis; USA TODAY Sports
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
In a recent episode of Jeopardy!, contestant and Washington Post writer, Sarah Smith, missed a clue related to pop music icon Celine Dion. Despite being an avid fan of music, Smith couldn’t come up with the correct response when the clue mentioned Dion’s record-breaking album sales and hit songs.
Smith later admitted that she was caught off guard by the specific details mentioned in the clue and simply couldn’t recall them in time. Fans of the show were surprised to see a seasoned writer stumble over a music-related question, but Smith took it all in stride, laughing off her mistake.
It just goes to show that even the most knowledgeable contestants can have a slip-up now and then on Jeopardy! Regardless, Smith’s quick thinking and impressive trivia skills kept her in the game, proving that she’s still a force to be reckoned with on the iconic quiz show.
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