Kennedy Center Honors

Annual American honor in the performing arts

Award

Kennedy Center Honors

Logotype symbolizing "a spectrum of many skills within the performing arts"

Awarded for| Lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts
Country| United States
Presented by| Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center
First award| 1978
Website| www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors
The 2006 honorees at the Kennedy Center on December 6, 2006, with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush; from left, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Smokey Robinson, Vice President Dick Cheney and Second Lady Lynne Cheney.

The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five Honorees in the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.[1] While the awards are primarily given to individuals, they have occasionally been given to duos or musical groups, as well as to one Broadway musical, one television show, and one performing arts venue.[2]

## History

[edit]

George Stevens Jr. created the Kennedy Center Honors with Nick Vanoff and produced the first gala in 1978. He was the producer and co-writer through the 2014 awards,[3] 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 the American 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 network CBS, who bought it. With the first Honors event and Honorees, CBS vice president for specials, Bernie Sofronski, stated:[4][5]

> 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 was Leonard Bernstein in 1978, followed by Eric Sevareid in 1979 (with Gene Kelly closing it) and Beverly Sills in 1980. Walter Cronkite hosted from 1981 to 2002 and Caroline Kennedy hosted from 2003 to 2012. Glenn Close hosted in 2013 and Stephen Colbert hosted from 2014 to 2016.[6][7] Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment were the Executive Producers of the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors (2015) after George Stevens Jr. stepped down.[8] There was no formal host in 2017, although Caroline Kennedy delivered an introduction. In 2018, mid-2021, and 2023 Gloria Estefan hosted, LL Cool J hosted in 2019, and David Letterman hosted in late 2021. Queen Latifah hosted in 2024. 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.[9]

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. In 2024, the presentation added a half hour, making the show two and a half hours.[10][11] 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 the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition was postponed[12] and eventually held between May 17 and May 22, 2021, and the edited broadcast aired on June 6, 2021.[13] Since 2021, the annual Honors broadcast has been available to stream for a limited time through CBS platforms and Paramount+[14]

### Selection process

[edit]

Honoree recommendations are accepted from the general public,[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] The selections are typically announced sometime between July and September. Most honorees are Americans, with non-U.S. citizen honorees typically hailing from elsewhere in the anglosphere.

## Events

[edit]

The Kennedy Center lights up in rainbow colors every year in the weeks preceding the ceremony.

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 the Kennedy 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 the State Department, presided over by the Secretary of State, the Honorees are introduced and the Honors medallions are presented by the chairman of the board.[17] 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 creator Ivan Chermayeff.[18]

On Sunday, there is an early-evening White House reception,[19] traditionally hosted by the President of the United States and the First Lady, followed by the Honors gala performance at the Kennedy Center and supper.

Prior to 2017, there had been three occasions in which the president did not attend the gala performance. President Jimmy Carter did not attend in 1979 during the Iran hostage crisis; First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as his surrogate.[20] President George H. W. Bush was on a trip to Brussels and could not attend in 1989; First Lady Barbara Bush served as his surrogate.[21] President Bill Clinton was on a trip to Budapest and could not attend in 1994; First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton served as his surrogate.[22]

For the 2015 gala performance, President Barack Obama joined First Lady Michelle Obama late after addressing the nation in a live telecast from the White House.[23]

In 2017, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump decided not to participate in events honoring recipients of the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors awards to "allow the Honorees to celebrate without any political distraction."[24] 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 Kennedy was the host and presented the Honorees. The traditional dinner at the State Department on the Saturday evening before the ceremony was hosted by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and the White House reception was canceled.[25] Donald and Melania Trump also did not participate in any of the events of the 2018 or 2019 editions.[26]

Because of changes imposed on the delayed and abbreviated 2020 edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed 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.[27]

## Recipients

[edit]

2005 Kennedy Center Honorees: Julie Harris, Robert Redford, Tina Turner, Suzanne Farrell and Tony Bennett with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, in the Blue Room at the White House, December 4, 2005. 2006 Kennedy Center Honorees: Smokey Robinson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, and Zubin Mehta with President George W. Bush and the First Lady Laura Bush The surviving members of Led Zeppelin were honored in 2012 and are pictured here with President Barack Obama.

255 people have been awarded the Kennedy Center Honors as of 2024, as well as two special awards.[28] The award given to stand-up comedian and actor Bill Cosby in 1998 was rescinded in 2018 following Cosby's sexual assault conviction.[29]

The vast majority of Kennedy Center Honors have been bestowed on individuals. On 13 occasions since 1985, awards have been presented to duos or groups, including three married couples who were actors: Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy; Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; and Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Dancers The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold were honored, along with three musical theater songwriting duos: Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Members of six music groups were awarded: Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who; John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin; Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh and (posthumously) Glenn Frey of the Eagles; Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire; Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2, and Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, (posthumously) Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead.[30]

At the 2018 ceremony, a special award for "trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category" was presented to the creators of the musical Hamilton: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler and Alex Lacamoire.[31]

For the first time, the 2019 Honorees included a television program. The co-founders of Sesame Street, Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, accepted the Kennedy Center Honors on behalf of all the creators.[32]

In 2024, a special award was given to the Apollo Theater in New York City, the first institution to be awarded at the Kennedy Center Honors.

### 1970s

[edit]

Year  | Honorees

|

1978 | Marian Anderson, Fred Astaire, George Balanchine, Richard Rodgers, and Arthur Rubinstein
1979 | Aaron Copland, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Fonda, Martha Graham, and Tennessee Williams

### 1980s

[edit]

Kennedy Center honorees 2009 Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen, with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in the Blue Room, White House, December 6, 2009. The 2019 honorees Michael Tilson Thomas, Earth, Wind & Fire, Linda Ronstadt, Sally Field and Sesame Street with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at far left President Joe Biden giving a speech to the 2021 honorees Justino Díaz, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler, Berry Gordy, and Joni Mitchell. The 2022 honorees George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, Tania León, and U2 with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at far left Year  | Honorees

|

1980 | Leonard Bernstein, James Cagney, Agnes de Mille, Lynn Fontanne, and Leontyne Price
1981 | Count Basie, Cary Grant, Helen Hayes, Jerome Robbins, and Rudolf Serkin
1982 | George Abbott, Lillian Gish, Benny Goodman, Gene Kelly, and Eugene Ormandy
1983 | Katherine Dunham, Elia Kazan, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart, and Virgil Thomson
1984 | Lena Horne, Danny Kaye, Gian Carlo Menotti, Arthur Miller, and Isaac Stern
1985 | Merce Cunningham, Irene Dunne, Bob Hope, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, and Beverly Sills
1986 | Lucille Ball, Ray Charles, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, Yehudi Menuhin, and Antony Tudor
1987 | Perry Como, Bette Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Nathan Milstein, and Alwin Nikolais
1988 | Alvin Ailey, George Burns, Myrna Loy, Alexander Schneider, and Roger L. Stevens
1989 | Harry Belafonte, Claudette Colbert, Alexandra Danilova, Mary Martin, and William Schuman

### 1990s

[edit]

Year  | Honorees

|

1990 | Dizzy Gillespie, Katharine Hepburn, Risë Stevens, Jule Styne, and Billy Wilder
1991 | Roy Acuff, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Gregory Peck, and Robert Shaw
1992 | Lionel Hampton, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Ginger Rogers, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Paul Taylor
1993 | Johnny Carson, Arthur Mitchell, Georg Solti, Stephen Sondheim, and Marion Williams
1994 | Kirk Douglas, Aretha Franklin, Morton Gould, Harold Prince, and Pete Seeger
1995 | Jacques d'Amboise, Marilyn Horne, B.B. King, Sidney Poitier, and Neil Simon
1996 | Edward Albee, Benny Carter, Johnny Cash, Jack Lemmon, and Maria Tallchief
1997 | Lauren Bacall, Bob Dylan, Charlton Heston, Jessye Norman, and Edward Villella
1998 | Fred Ebb and John Kander, Willie Nelson, André Previn, Shirley Temple Black and Bill Cosby[a]
1999 | Victor Borge, Sean Connery, Judith Jamison, Jason Robards, and Stevie Wonder

### 2000s

[edit]

Year  | Honorees

|

2000 | Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chuck Berry, Plácido Domingo, Clint Eastwood, and Angela Lansbury
2001 | Julie Andrews, Van Cliburn, Quincy Jones, Jack Nicholson, and Luciano Pavarotti
2002 | James Earl Jones, James Levine, Chita Rivera, Paul Simon, and Elizabeth Taylor
2003 | James Brown, Carol Burnett, Loretta Lynn, Mike Nichols, and Itzhak Perlman
2004 | Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Elton John, Joan Sutherland, and John Williams
2005 | Tony Bennett, Suzanne Farrell, Julie Harris, Robert Redford, and Tina Turner
2006 | Andrew Lloyd Webber, Zubin Mehta, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, and Steven Spielberg
2007 | Leon Fleisher, Steve Martin, Diana Ross, Martin Scorsese, and Brian Wilson
2008 | Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, and The Who[b]
2009 | Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen

### 2010s

[edit]

Year  | Honorees  | Ref.

|
|

2010 | Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman, Bill T. Jones, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey |
2011 | Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins, and Meryl Streep | [35]
2012 | Buddy Guy, Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova, and Led Zeppelin[c] | [36]
2013 | Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine, and Carlos Santana | [37]
2014 | Al Green, Tom Hanks, Patricia McBride, Sting, and Lily Tomlin | [38]
2015 | Carole King, George Lucas, Rita Moreno, Seiji Ozawa, and Cicely Tyson | [39]
2016 | Martha Argerich, Eagles,[d] Al Pacino, Mavis Staples, and James Taylor | [41][42]
2017 | Carmen de Lavallade, Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J, Norman Lear, and Lionel Richie |
2018 | Cher, Philip Glass, Reba McEntire, Wayne Shorter, and the creators of Hamilton[e] | [31]
2019 | Earth, Wind & Fire,[f] Sally Field, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Sesame Street[g] | [32][43]

### 2020s

[edit]

Year  | Honorees  | Ref.

|
|

2020 | Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, Midori, and Dick Van Dyke | [44]
2021 | Justino Díaz, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell | [45]
2022 | George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, Tania León, and U2[h] | [46]
2023 | Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick | [47]
2024 | Francis Ford Coppola, Grateful Dead,[i] Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, and the Apollo Theater | [2]

## Prospective Honorees who declined, canceled or postponed

[edit]

Pianist Vladimir Horowitz was 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.[4]

Actress Katharine Hepburn declined the committee's first offer, although she relented in 1990.[4]

Doris Day repeatedly turned down the honor because her fear of flying prevented her from attending the ceremony.[48]

When considering Irving Berlin for 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.[49]

Paul McCartney was 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 McCartney's award would be postponed until the following year, the Kennedy Center did not give the award to McCartney in 2003.[50] However, McCartney became a 2010 Honoree.[51]

Mel Brooks said he refused the Honor when George W. Bush was in office, due to his distaste for Bush's Iraq policy. He was honored in 2009, the first year Barack Obama was president.[52][53]

In November 2015, one month before the ceremony, the Eagles postponed their Honors acceptance until the following year because Glenn Frey had health problems that required major surgery and a long recovery period.[41] Despite their absence, they were still honored in 2015 via a performance of "Desperado" by country singer Miranda Lambert. Frey died on January 18, 2016; the center made him and the three surviving Eagles members 2016 Honorees.[54][40]

In 2017, Norman Lear accepted the Honor but boycotted the White House ceremony because of his opposition to President Donald Trump, citing Trump's proposal to end the National Endowments for the Humanities and for the Arts.[55] Lear did attend the 2017 events and ceremony. However, Donald and Melania Trump were not present, becoming the first U.S. presidential couple to skip the event "to allow the Honorees to celebrate without any political distraction".[25]

## See also

[edit]

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

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ award rescinded[33][34]
2. ^ (Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey)
3. ^ (John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant)
4. ^ (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh),[40]
5. ^ (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire, and Andy Blankenbuehler)
6. ^ (Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson)
7. ^ (Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney)
8. ^ (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.)
9. ^ (Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About the Honors". John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
2. ^ a b Andrews, Travis M. (July 18, 2024). "Coppola, Raitt and the Dead make latest Kennedy Center Honors class". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
3. ^ Harris, Paul (December 7, 2014). "George Stevens Jr. to End 37-Year Run as Kennedy Center Honors Producer". Variety.
4. ^ a b c Crews, Chip (December 27, 2005). "The Honors, Take 2". The Washington Post.
5. ^ Shales, Tom (September 28, 1978). "Crowning America's Culture Superstars". The Washington Post. p. B1.
6. ^ McGlone, Peggy (November 19, 2014). "Stephen Colbert Will Host 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors". The Washington Post.
7. ^ Park, Andrea (December 27, 2016). "Kennedy Center Honors 2016". CBS News.
8. ^ "Tony Awards Team Chosen". The Washington Post. May 5, 2015.
9. ^ "The 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors | Paramount FYC". www.paramountfyc.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
10. ^ "Kennedy Center Honors 2017: How to Watch Online and on TV, Start Time and Pre-Show". CBS News. December 26, 2017.
11. ^ "2017 Honors" (PDF) (Press release). John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. December 3, 2017.
12. ^ "Kennedy Center Cancels Most Previously Scheduled Performances Through the End of 2020 Due to COVID-19" (Press release). Washington, District of Columbia: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
13. ^ "The Kennedy Center Honors". Kennedy Center. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
14. ^ Rejent, Joseph (December 22, 2021). "'The 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors' 2021 free live stream: How to watch online without cable". nj. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
15. ^ "Honors". John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
16. ^ "Announcing the 47th Kennedy Center Honors Slate | Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
17. ^ a b "Eagles, Carole King, George Lucas, Rita Moreno, Seiji Ozawa and Cicely Tyson to Receive 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" (PDF) (Press release). John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. July 15, 2015.
18. ^ Chermayeff, Ivan (December 7, 2008). "Q& A: Ivan Chermayeff, Designer of the Kennedy Center Honors Medal". The Washington Post (Interview). Interviewed by Jennifer Frey.
19. ^ "A Vision in Blue". Mrs. O. December 4, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
20. ^ Gamarekian, Barbara (December 3, 1979). "Kennedy Center Honors Five for Life Achievements in Arts: Audience of Over 2,000 'She Led a Revolt' White House Reception". The New York Times. p. C14. "Mrs. Carter: 'As you know President Carter has had to cancel his public appearances.'"
21. ^ Silvassy, Kathleen (December 4, 1989). "Kennedy Center Honors: dazzling surprises". UPI.
22. ^ Pareles, John (December 25, 1994). "Performers Receive Kennedy Center Awards". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015.
23. ^ McGlone, Peggy (December 6, 2015). "President Obama Will Be Late to Kennedy Center Honors Performance". The Washington Post.
24. ^ "Trump to Skip Kennedy Center Arts Award". The Washington Post. August 19, 2017. Archived from the original on November 3, 2018.
25. ^ a b McGlone, Peggy (December 3, 2017). "At the Kennedy Center Honors, Plenty of Politics Make Up for Trump's Playing Hooky". The Washington Post.
26. ^ Harris, Paul (December 9, 2019). "Heartfelt Tributes Trump Politics at Kennedy Center Honors". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
27. ^ McGlone, Peggy (December 1, 2021). "The Bidens will attend Sunday's Kennedy Center Honors, restoring a tradition that Trump rejected". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
28. ^ "History of the Kennedy Center Honors: Past Honorees". Retrieved December 5, 2022.
29. ^ Holloway, Daniel (May 8, 2018). "Bill Cosby's Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Prize Revoked". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
30. ^ Gomez Sarmiento, Isabella (July 18, 2024). "Grateful Dead, Francis Ford Coppola, Bonnie Raitt on 2024 Kennedy Center Honors list". NPR. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
31. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (July 25, 2018). "Hamilton Creators Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire Will Receive Special Kennedy Center Honors". Playbill.
32. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (July 18, 2019). "Sally Field and Linda Ronstadt Among 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees". Playbill.
33. ^ "Kennedy Center rescinds Bill Cosby's Honors and Twain awards". The Washington Post. May 7, 2018.
34. ^ "Bill Cosby's sex assault conviction overturned by court". CTV News. The Associated Press. June 30, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
35. ^ "Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins & Meryl Streep to Receive 34th Annual Kennedy Center Honors". John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
36. ^ Gans, Andrew (September 12, 2012). "Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova, Buddy Guy, Led Zeppelin Are Kennedy Center Honorees". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012.
37. ^ Gans, Andrew (September 12, 2013). "Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine and Carlos Santana Are 2013 Kennedy Center Honorees". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
38. ^ Harris, Paul (September 4, 2014). "Tom Hanks, Lily Tomlin, Sting to Receive Kennedy Center Honors". Variety. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
39. ^ Viagas, Robert (July 15, 2015). "Carole King, Cicely Tyson, Rita Moreno and More Named 2015 Kennedy Center Honorees". Playbill.
40. ^ a b "Martha Argerich, Eagles, Al Pacino, Mavis Staples, James Taylor To Receive 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" (PDF) (Press release). John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. June 23, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
41. ^ a b Clark, Cindy (November 4, 2015). "Kennedy Center Postpones Honors to Eagles". USA Today.
42. ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 23, 2016). "Kennedy Center Honors: Al Pacino, Eagles, James Taylor & More". Deadline Hollywood.
43. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Audra McDonald, Cynthia Erivo, more perform on 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors broadcast December 15". Playbill. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
44. ^ "Announcing the 43rd Kennedy Center Honorees". January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
45. ^ Gans, Andrew (July 21, 2021). "Bette Midler, Berry Gordy, Joni Mitchell, More Among 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honorees". Playbill. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
46. ^ Ulaby, Neda (July 21, 2022). "George Clooney and Gladys Knight are among the 2022 Kennedy Center honorees". NPR. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
47. ^ Ulaby, Neda (July 21, 2022). "Queen Latifah and Billy Crystal are among the 2023 Kennedy Center honorees". NPR.
48. ^ Pollock, Allen. "About Doris". DorisDay.com.
49. ^ Molotsky, Irvin (December 7, 1987). "Five Receive Kennedy Center Honors for Artistic Contributions". The New York Times.
50. ^ "The Kennedy Center Honors: This Year's Bid for Glamour". The New York Times. August 6, 2003.
51. ^ Trescott, Jacqueline (September 7, 2010). "Oprah Winfrey Among Five Recipients of 2010 Kennedy Center Honors". The Washington Post.
52. ^ "Mel Brooks on His New Box Set and the 1 Million Great Stories that Come with It". Vulture. November 13, 2012.
53. ^ "Mel Brooks: 'I'm An EGOT; I Don't Need Any More'". NPR. Fresh Air. May 20, 2013.
54. ^ Morton, Victor (January 18, 2016). "Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist, dies at 67". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
55. ^ Held, Amy (August 5, 2017). "Norman Lear, Kennedy Center Honoree, To Skip White House Reception In Protest". The Two-way. NPR. Retrieved July 18, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kennedy Center Honors.

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

* v
* t
* e

Kennedy Center Honorees

* 1970s
* 1980s
* 1990s
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s

Awards for Kennedy Center Honors

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series

1951–1975|

* The Alan Young Show (1951)
* Your Show of Shows (1952)
* Your Show of Shows (1953)
* Omnibus (1954)
* Disneyland (1955)
* The Ed Sullivan Show / Your Hit Parade (1956)
* Caesar's Hour (1957)
* The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1958)
* The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1959)
* The Fabulous Fifties (1960)
* Astaire Time (1961)
* The Garry Moore Show (1962)
* The Andy Williams Show (1963)
* The Danny Kaye Show (1964)
* The Andy Williams Show (1966)
* The Andy Williams Show (1967)
* Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968)
* Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1969)
* The David Frost Show (1970)
* The Flip Wilson Show / The David Frost Show (1971)
* The Carol Burnett Show / The Dick Cavett Show (1972)
* The Julie Andrews Hour (1973)
* The Carol Burnett Show (1974)
* The Carol Burnett Show (1975)

1976–2000|

* Saturday Night Live (1976)
* Van Dyke and Company (1977)
* The Muppet Show (1978)
* Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin (1979)
* Baryshnikov on Broadway (1980)
* Lily: Sold Out (1981)
* Night of 100 Stars (1982)
* Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (1983)
* A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1984)
* Motown Returns to the Apollo (1985)
* A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1986)
* 41st Tony Awards (1987)
* Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration (1988)
* The Tracey Ullman Show (1989)
* In Living Color (1990)
* 63rd Academy Awards (1991)
* The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1992)
* Saturday Night Live (1993)
* Late Show with David Letterman (1994)
* The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1995)
* Dennis Miller Live (1996)
* Tracey Takes On... (1997)
* Late Show with David Letterman (1998)
* Late Show with David Letterman (1999)
* Late Show with David Letterman (2000)

2001–2014|

* Late Show with David Letterman (2001)
* Late Show with David Letterman (2002)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2003)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2004)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2005)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2006)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2007)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2008)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2009)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2010)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2011)
* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2012)
* The Colbert Report (2013)
* The Colbert Report (2014)

* v
* t
* e

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

1959–1975|

* An Evening with Fred Astaire (1959)
* Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic (1960)
* No Award (1961)
* Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in Japan (1962)
* Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall (1963)
* The Bell Telephone Hour (1964)
* No Award (1965)
* Chrysler Presents the Bob Hope Christmas Special / Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music (1966)
* Brigadoon / The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Morris Special (1967)
* Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968)
* The Bill Cosby Special (1969)
* Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man / Cinderella, National Ballet of Canada (1970)
* Singer Presents Burt Bacharach / Leopold Stokowski, N.E.T. Festival (1971)
* Jack Lemmon in 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin / Beethoven's Birthday: A Celebration in Vienna with Leonard Bernstein (1972)
* Singer Presents Liza with a Z (1973)
* Lily (1974)
* An Evening with John Denver (1975)

1976–2000|

* Gypsy in My Soul (1976)
* The Barry Manilow Special (1977)
* Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair is Back (1978)
* No Award (1979–1989)
* Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990)
* No Award (1991)
* Cirque Du Soleil: Nouvelle Expérience (1992)
* Bob Hope: The First 90 Years (1993)
* Kennedy Center Honors (1994)
* Barbra Streisand: The Concert (1995)
* Kennedy Center Honors (1996)
* Chris Rock: Bring the Pain (1997)
* 52nd Tony Awards (1998)
* 53rd Tony Awards (1999)
* Saturday Night Live 25th Anniversary Special (2000)

2001–present|

* Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion (2001)
* America: A Tribute to Heroes (2002)
* Cher: The Farewell Tour (2003)
* Elaine Stritch: At Liberty (2004)
* 58th Tony Awards (2005)
* The XX Olympic Winter Games: Opening Ceremony (2006)
* Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2007)
* Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2008)
* Kennedy Center Honors (2009)
* Kennedy Center Honors (2010)
* Kennedy Center Honors (2011)
* Kennedy Center Honors (2012)
* Kennedy Center Honors (2013)
* AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks (2014)
* Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special (2015)
* The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special (2016)
* Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2017 (2017)
* Dave Chappelle: Equanimity (2018)
* Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool (2019)
* Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones (2020)
* Hamilton (2021)
* Adele One Night Only (2022)
* Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love (2023)
* Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic (2024)

Between 1979–1989, the category was combined as Outstanding Variety Series.

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz series

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