Eminent artist friends and peers of this year's six honorees converged in Washington, D.C. on December 7th to present entertaining and heartfelt tributes at the 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors. The special will air on Tuesday, Dec. 30 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBSk, with Caroline Kennedy as host. Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey were all present at the black-tie gala in their honor.
The annual event recognizes recipients for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures and television. Keeping with tradition, the roster of performers and presenters remains secret prior to the gala, and a short biographical film is featured during each honoree's tribute.
Performers and presenters included Beyoncé, Jack Black, Garth Brooks, Glenn Close, Chris Cornell, Clint Eastwood, Honeyboy Edwards, Marcelo Gomes, Dave Grohl, Nathan Gunn, Alan Jackson, B.B. King, Bettye Lavette, Shelby Lynne, Idina Menzel, Ne-Yo, Kelli O'Hara, Brad Paisley, Luciana Paris, Pinetop Perkins, Queen Latifah, Joss Stone, Koko Taylor, Rob Thomas, Lily Tomlin, Randy Travis and Denzel Washington. Also, First Lady Laura Bush made a special appearance in honor of George Jones.
President and Mrs. George W. Bush, Vice President and Mrs. Richard B. Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are seated with the honorees in the presidential box in the Opera House of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, after having just attended the traditional White House reception for the honorees.
