US President Joe Biden honored the five newest recipients of the annual Kennedy Center Honors at the White House on Sunday (3/12).
This year’s recipients are comedian and actor Billy Crystal, opera soprano Renee Fleming, British singing trio the Bee Gees member Barry Gibb, rapper Queen Latifah and pop singer Dionne Warwick.
“Performing arts are more than just sounds and scenes. “The performing arts reflect who we are as Americans and as human beings,” said President Biden, adding, “This is especially true for the more than 200 Kennedy Center honorees over the last 46 years who have helped shape the way we see ourselves, the way we see each other others, and the way we view the world.”
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attend the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, USA, December 3, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson)
The five honorees then attended a star-studded event at the Kennedy Center to commemorate their careers in entertainment.
The award is given by the performing arts center in Washington DC, whose name is a reference to the late President John F Kennedy.
The award honors performers and artists of stage, film, music and television for their lifetime contributions to American arts and culture.
Previous recipients include actor and dancer Fred Astaire, playwright Arthur Miller, late-night talk show hosts Johnny Carson and David Letterman, actors Robert Redford, Bette Davis and Sidney Poitier, and singers Elton John, Bob Dyland and Cher. (uh/ab)