Kennedy Center Honors

TheKennedy Center Honorsare annual honors given to those in theperforming artsfor their lifetime of contributions toAmerican culture.They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five Honorees in theKennedy CenterOpera HouseinWashington, D.C.While the awards are primarily given to individuals, they have occasionally been given to duos or musical groups, as well as to oneBroadwaymusical,onetelevision show,and one performing arts venue.

Kennedy Center Honors
Logotype symbolizing "a spectrum of many skills within the performing arts"
Awarded for	Lifetime contributions toAmerican culturethrough theperforming arts.
Country	United States
Presented by	Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center
First awarded	1978
Website	www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors

The 2006 honorees at the Kennedy Center on December 6, 2006, with PresidentGeorge W. Bushand First LadyLaura Bush;from left,Andrew Lloyd Webber,Steven Spielberg,Dolly Parton,Zubin Mehta,Smokey Robinson,Vice PresidentDick Cheneyand Second LadyLynne Cheney.

History

George Stevens Jr.created the Kennedy Center Honors withNick Vanoffand produced the first gala in 1978. He was the producer and co-writer through the 2014 awards,after which he sold the production rights to the Kennedy Center.

The idea for the Kennedy Center Honors began in 1977, after that year's 10th-anniversary White House reception and Kennedy Center program for theAmerican Film Institute(AFI).Roger L. Stevens,the founding chairman of the Kennedy Center, asked George Stevens Jr. (no relation), the founding director of the AFI, to hold an event for the center. Stevens Jr. asked Isaac Stern to become involved, and then pitched the idea to the television networkCBS,who bought it. With the first Honors event and Honorees, CBS vice president for specials, Bernie Sofronski, stated:

George [Stevens] came to us with this. What turned us on is that this is the only show of its kind. In Europe and most countries, they have ways of honoring their actors and their athletes. England has its command performances for the queen. We see this as a national honoring of people who have contributed to society, not someone who happens to have a pop record hit at the moment... Our intention is not to do just another award show. We're going to make an effort in terms of a real special.

The first host wasLeonard Bernsteinin 1978, followed byEric Sevareidin 1979 (withGene Kellyclosing it) andBeverly Sillsin 1980.Walter Cronkitehosted from 1981 to 2002 andCaroline Kennedyhosted from 2003 to 2012.Glenn Closehosted in 2013 andStephen Colberthosted from 2014 to 2016.Ricky KirshnerandGlenn Weissof White Cherry Entertainment were the Executive Producers of the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors (2015) after George Stevens Jr. stepped down.There was no formal host in 2017, although Caroline Kennedy delivered an introduction. In 2018, mid-2021, and 2023Gloria Estefanhosted,LL Cool Jhosted in 2019, andDavid Lettermanhosted in late 2021. There was no formal host in 2022, though several former honorees delivered an introduction. In 2022, David Jammy of Done+Dusted and Elizabeth Kelly of ROK Productions were hired to serve as Executive Producers.

This awards show does not air live (with the exception of closed-circuit venues), but an edited version lasting approximately two hours is normally televised on CBS after Christmas.Normally, the show has been aired between Christmas and New Year's on CBS television, but, in a departure from this tradition, the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors aired on regular television in early December and was later made available on CBS All Access. Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,the 2020 edition was postponedand eventually held between May 17 and May 22, 2021, and the edited broadcast aired on June 6, 2021.Since 2021, the annual Honors broadcast has been available to stream for a limited time through CBS platforms and Paramount+

Selection process

Honoree recommendations are accepted from the general public,and the Kennedy Center initiated a Special Honors Advisory Committee, which comprises members of the board of trustees as well as past Honorees and distinguished artists.The executive committee of the board of trustees selects the Honoree recipients based on their impact and contributions to American culture and excellence in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures or television.The selections are typically announced sometime between July and September.

Events

The invitation-only, weekend-long ceremony includes the Chairman's Luncheon, the State Department dinner, White House reception, and the Honors gala performances and supper.

The Chairman's Luncheon is held on Saturday at theKennedy Center.Surrounded by the Honorees, the chairman of the board of trustees launches the event with a welcoming speech. At that evening's reception and dinner at theState Department,presided over by theSecretary of State,the Honorees are introduced and the Honors medallions are presented by the chairman of the board.The wide rainbow-colored ribbon then hung around the necks of the recipients and prominently noticeable when the events are televised, symbolizes "a spectrum of many skills within the performing arts" according to creatorIvan Chermayeff.

On Sunday, there is an early-eveningWhite Housereception,traditionally hosted by thePresident of the United Statesand theFirst Lady,followed by the Honors gala performance at the Kennedy Center and supper.

Prior to 2017, there had been four occasions in which the president did not attend the gala performance. PresidentJimmy Carterdid not attend in 1979 during theIran hostage crisis;First LadyRosalynn Carterserved as his surrogate.PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushwas on a trip toBrusselsand could not attend in 1989; First LadyBarbara Bushserved as his surrogate.PresidentBill Clintonwas on a trip toBudapestand could not attend in 1994; First LadyHillary Rodham Clintonserved as his surrogate.

For the 2015 gala performance, PresidentBarack Obamajoined First LadyMichelle Obamalate after addressing the nation in a live telecast from the White House.

In 2017, PresidentDonald Trumpand First LadyMelania Trumpdecided not to participate in events honoring recipients of the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors awards to "allow the Honorees to celebrate without any political distraction."The 2017 ceremony was held on December 3, 2017 without them, marking the first time that neither the president nor the first lady attended;Caroline Kennedywas the host and presented the Honorees. The traditional dinner at the State Department on the Saturday evening before the ceremony was hosted bySecretary of StateRex Tillerson,and the White House reception was canceled.Donald and Melania Trump also did not participate in any of the events of the 2018 or 2019 editions.

Because of changes imposed on the delayed and abbreviated 2020 edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PresidentJoe Bidenand First LadyJill Bidenwelcomed that year's Honorees to the White House in May 2021 but did not attend any other events.

For the 2021 edition, Joe and Jill Biden attended the gala performance on December 5, 2021, marking the first time since 2016 that a sitting president and first lady had attended the event.

Recipients

2005 Kennedy Center HonoreesJulie Harris,Robert Redford,Tina Turner,Suzanne FarrellandTony Bennettwith PresidentGeorge W. Bushand First LadyLaura Bush,in the Blue Room at the White House, December 4, 2005.

The surviving members ofLed Zeppelinwere honored in 2012 and are pictured here with PresidentBarack Obama.

PresidentJoe Bidengiving a speech to the 2021 honoreesJustino Díaz,Lorne Michaels,Bette Midler,Berry Gordy,andJoni Mitchell.

256 people have been awarded the Kennedy Center Honors as of 2024.One award, given to stand-up comedian and actorBill Cosbyin 1998, was rescinded in 2018, following a sexual assault conviction.The vast majority have been bestowed on individuals. On twelve occasions since 1985, awards have been presented to duos or groups, including three married couples who were actors:Hume CronynandJessica Tandy;Paul NewmanandJoanne Woodward;andOssie DavisandRuby Dee.Dancers TheNicholas Brothers,Fayard and Harold were honored, along with threemusical theatersongwriting duos:Alan Jay LernerandFrederick Loewe,Betty ComdenandAdolph Green,andJohn KanderandFred Ebb.Members of six music groups were awarded:Pete TownshendandRoger DaltreyofThe Who;John Paul Jones,Jimmy PageandRobert PlantofLed Zeppelin;Don Henley,Timothy B. Schmit,Joe Walshand (posthumously)Glenn Freyof theEagles;Philip Bailey,Verdine White,Ralph Johnsonand (posthumously)Maurice WhiteofEarth, Wind & Fire;Bono,The Edge,Adam Clayton,andLarry Mullen Jr.ofU2,andMickey Hart,Billy Kreutzmann,Phil LeshandBobby Weirof theGrateful Dead.

In 2018, a special award for "trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category" was created and presented at the annual ceremony to the creators of the musicalHamilton:Lin-Manuel Miranda,Thomas Kail,Andy BlankenbuehlerandAlex Lacamoire.

The 2019 Honorees included, for the first time, a television program; the co-founders ofSesame Street,Joan Ganz CooneyandLloyd Morrisett,accepted the Kennedy Center Honors on behalf of all of the creators.

In 2024 a special award was given to theApollo Theaterin New York City, the first institution honored at the Kennedy Center Honors.

1970s

• 1978 –Marian Anderson,Fred Astaire,George Balanchine,Richard Rodgers,andArthur Rubinstein
• 1979 –Aaron Copland,Ella Fitzgerald,Henry Fonda,Martha Graham,andTennessee Williams

1980s

• 1980 –Leonard Bernstein,James Cagney,Agnes de Mille,Lynn Fontanne,andLeontyne Price
• 1981 –Count Basie,Cary Grant,Helen Hayes,Jerome Robbins,andRudolf Serkin
• 1982 –George Abbott,Lillian Gish,Benny Goodman,Gene Kelly,andEugene Ormandy
• 1983 –Katherine Dunham,Elia Kazan,Frank Sinatra,James Stewart,andVirgil Thomson
• 1984 –Lena Horne,Danny Kaye,Gian Carlo Menotti,Arthur Miller,andIsaac Stern
• 1985 –Merce Cunningham,Irene Dunne,Bob Hope,Alan Jay LernerandFrederick Loewe,andBeverly Sills
• 1986 –Lucille Ball,Ray Charles,Hume CronynandJessica Tandy,Yehudi Menuhin,andAntony Tudor
• 1987 –Perry Como,Bette Davis,Sammy Davis Jr.,Nathan Milstein,andAlwin Nikolais
• 1988 –Alvin Ailey,George Burns,Myrna Loy,Alexander Schneider,andRoger L. Stevens
• 1989 –Harry Belafonte,Claudette Colbert,Alexandra Danilova,Mary Martin,andWilliam Schuman

1990s

• 1990 –Dizzy Gillespie,Katharine Hepburn,Risë Stevens,Jule Styne,andBilly Wilder
• 1991 –Roy Acuff,Betty ComdenandAdolph Green,FayardandHarold Nicholas,Gregory Peck,andRobert Shaw
• 1992 –Lionel Hampton,Paul NewmanandJoanne Woodward,Ginger Rogers,Mstislav Rostropovich,andPaul Taylor
• 1993 –Johnny Carson,Arthur Mitchell,Georg Solti,Stephen Sondheim,andMarion Williams
• 1994 –Kirk Douglas,Aretha Franklin,Morton Gould,Harold Prince,andPete Seeger
• 1995 –Jacques d'Amboise,Marilyn Horne,B.B. King,Sidney Poitier,andNeil Simon
• 1996 –Edward Albee,Benny Carter,Johnny Cash,Jack Lemmon,andMaria Tallchief
• 1997 –Lauren Bacall,Bob Dylan,Charlton Heston,Jessye Norman,andEdward Villella
• 1998 –Fred EbbandJohn Kander,Willie Nelson,André Previn,Shirley Temple BlackandBill Cosby(award rescinded)
• 1999 –Victor Borge,Sean Connery,Judith Jamison,Jason Robards,andStevie Wonder

2000s

Kennedy Center honorees 2009Mel Brooks,Dave Brubeck,Grace Bumbry,Robert De Niro,andBruce Springsteen,with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the Blue Room, White House, December 6, 2009.

• 2000 –Mikhail Baryshnikov,Chuck Berry,Plácido Domingo,Clint Eastwood,andAngela Lansbury
• 2001 –Julie Andrews,Van Cliburn,Quincy Jones,Jack Nicholson,andLuciano Pavarotti
• 2002 –James Earl Jones,James Levine,Chita Rivera,Paul Simon,andElizabeth Taylor
• 2003 –James Brown,Carol Burnett,Loretta Lynn,Mike Nichols,andItzhak Perlman
• 2004 –Warren Beatty,Ossie DavisandRuby Dee,Elton John,Joan Sutherland,andJohn Williams
• 2005 –Tony Bennett,Suzanne Farrell,Julie Harris,Robert Redford,andTina Turner
• 2006 –Andrew Lloyd Webber,Zubin Mehta,Dolly Parton,Smokey Robinson,andSteven Spielberg
• 2007 –Leon Fleisher,Steve Martin,Diana Ross,Martin Scorsese,andBrian Wilson
• 2008 –Morgan Freeman,George Jones,Barbra Streisand,Twyla Tharp,andThe Who(Pete TownshendandRoger Daltrey)
• 2009 –Mel Brooks,Dave Brubeck,Grace Bumbry,Robert De Niro,andBruce Springsteen

2010s

The 2019 honoreesMichael Tilson Thomas,Earth, Wind & Fire,Linda Ronstadt,Sally FieldandSesame Streetwith Secretary of StateMike Pompeoat far left

• 2010 –Merle Haggard,Jerry Herman,Bill T. Jones,Paul McCartney,andOprah Winfrey
• 2011 –Barbara Cook,Neil Diamond,Yo-Yo Ma,Sonny Rollins,andMeryl Streep
• 2012 –Buddy Guy,Dustin Hoffman,David Letterman,Natalia Makarova,andLed Zeppelin(John Paul Jones,Jimmy PageandRobert Plant)
• 2013 –Martina Arroyo,Herbie Hancock,Billy Joel,Shirley MacLaine,andCarlos Santana
• 2014 –Al Green,Tom Hanks,Patricia McBride,Sting,andLily Tomlin
• 2015 –Carole King,George Lucas,Rita Moreno,Seiji Ozawa,andCicely Tyson
• 2016 –Martha Argerich,Eagles(Don Henley,Glenn Frey,Timothy B. SchmitandJoe Walsh),Al Pacino,Mavis Staples,andJames Taylor
• 2017 –Carmen de Lavallade,Gloria Estefan,LL Cool J,Norman Lear,andLionel Richie
• 2018 –Cher,Philip Glass,Reba McEntire,Wayne Shorter,and the creators ofHamilton: An American Musical(Lin-Manuel Miranda,Thomas Kail,Alex Lacamoire,andAndy Blankenbuehler)
• 2019 –Earth, Wind & Fire(Philip Bailey,Verdine White,andRalph Johnson),Sally Field,Linda Ronstadt,Sesame Street(Lloyd MorrisettandJoan Ganz Cooney), andMichael Tilson Thomas

2020s

The 2022 honoreesGeorge Clooney,Amy Grant,Gladys Knight,Tania León,andU2with Secretary of StateAntony Blinkenat far left

• 2020 –Debbie Allen,Joan Baez,Garth Brooks,Midori,andDick Van Dyke
• 2021 –Justino Díaz,Berry Gordy,Lorne Michaels,Bette Midler,andJoni Mitchell
• 2022 –George Clooney,Amy Grant,Gladys Knight,Tania León,andU2(Bono,The Edge,Adam ClaytonandLarry Mullen Jr.)
• 2023 –Billy Crystal,Renée Fleming,Barry Gibb,Queen Latifah,andDionne Warwick
• 2024 –Francis Ford Coppola,Grateful Dead(Mickey Hart,Bill Kreutzmann,Phil LeshandBob Weir),Bonnie Raitt,Arturo Sandoval,and theApollo Theater

Prospective Honorees who declined, canceled or postponed

PianistVladimir Horowitzwas to be an Honoree, but the selection committee withdrew the offer when Horowitz conditioned his acceptance on being honored alone and at 4:00 in the afternoon.

ActressKatharine Hepburndeclined the committee's first offer, although she relented in 1990.

Doris Dayrepeatedly turned down the Honor because her fear of flying prevented her from attending the ceremony.

When consideringIrving Berlinfor the 1987 awards because of criticism for overlooking him, the Center was informed that Berlin wanted to be honored only if he surpassed his 100th birthday (which would not be until May 1988). He was also in failing health, using a wheelchair following a series of strokes, and could not attend a public event. The Center chose instead to pay special tribute to him at the 1987 Gala. He died in 1989.

Paul McCartneywas selected as an Honoree in 2002, but was unable to attend due to an "inescapable personal obligation," his cousin's previously planned wedding. After initially saying that McCartney's award would be postponed until the following year, the Kennedy Center did not award McCartney in 2003.McCartney later became a 2010 Honoree.

Mel Brookshas stated that he refused the Honor whenGeorge W. Bushwas in office, due to his distaste for Bush's Iraq policy. He was honored in 2009, the first yearBarack Obamawas president.

In November 2015, one month before the actual ceremony, theEaglespostponed their Honors acceptance until the following year becauseGlenn Freyhad intestinal problems that required major surgery and a long recovery period.Despite their absence, they were still honored in 2015 via a performance of "Desperado"by country singerMiranda Lambert.Frey died on January 18, 2016, although the Center made him and the three surviving members 2016 Honorees.

In 2017,Norman Learaccepted the Honor, but boycotted the White House ceremony because of his opposition to PresidentDonald Trump,citing Trump's proposal to end theNational Endowments for the Humanitiesandfor the Arts.Lear did attend the 2017 events and ceremony, but Donald andMelania Trumpwere not present, becoming the first U.S. presidential couple to skip the event, in order "to allow the Honorees to celebrate without any political distraction".

See also

• Mark Twain Prize for American Humor,the Kennedy Center's award for contributions to American humor

External links

• Official website
• "Collection Kennedy Center Honors" The Paley Center for Media