Actor George Clooney, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, singer Gladys Knight, composer Tania León and rock group U2 were celebrated for their contributions to the arts at a White House reception and a music-filled Kennedy Center Honors show https://t.co/GseeVN1xZA pic.twitter.com/yW9BdHdlUX
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 5, 2022
(There will be a televised version on CBS, on December 28.)
Paul Pelosi is seen in public for the first time, since he was attacked in his home, at the Kennedy Center Honors. pic.twitter.com/SmzKXPlYQL
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 5, 2022
Thé Kennedy Center Honorees:
U2, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, George Clooney, and Tania Leon.
📸 Gail Schuman #KennedyCenterHonors pic.twitter.com/JmFjN4graC
— 🩺 Sassenach 🎄 (@sass3366) December 5, 2022
Per the AP — read the whole thing:
A heartfelt Patti LaBelle praised her lifelong friend Gladys Knight. Sean Penn called U2 “four scrappy Dublin punks.” Ballet dancers performed for conductor and composer Tania León. Matt Damon playfully teased his friend George Clooney — a lot — while Sheryl Crow delivered a heartfelt rendition of “Baby Baby” to Amy Grant during Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors.
Knight, Clooney, Grant, León and U2 were all celebrated at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which annually honors a select group of people for their artistic influences on American culture. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their respective spouses were in attendance, as were members the President’s Cabinet and Congress.
One audience member from the political world — Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — drew some attention. He is recovering from a brutal attack in the Pelosis’ San Francisco home in October. The couple received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Normally performers like U2 or Knight would be headlining such a show, but during the Kennedy Center event the honorees sit in the balcony and watch as their peers laud them and perform their works.
On the red carpet, Clooney, with his wife, Amal, beside him, joked that after seeing friends like Don Cheadle and Julia Roberts in attendance he was worried his tribute would be more of a “roast.” And it was a bit like that, though his friends and family showed obvious respect…
Standing on a stage lit by a massive sign reading “Gladys,” LaBelle called Knight her “everything,” saying they had been friends for six decades and had seen each other through laughter and tears. “We do everything together,” LaBelle said. “I am honored to honor you tonight.”…
Five ballet dancers took to the stage to honor composer and conductor Tania León, who left Cuba as a refugee in 1967; her passport was stamped “Cancelado” when she left the country. The performers were from the Dance Theatre of Harlem, which León helped found when she eventually made her way to New York City. She also instituted the Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concert Series and in 2021 received the Pulitzer Prize for her work “Stride,” inspired by women’s rights champion Susan B. Anthony.
“How do I convey the extent of your musical genius?” asked actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith. Jazz pianist Jason Moran, singer Alicia Hall Moran and cellist Sterling Elliott played one of León’s creations, “Oh Yemanja.”…
The last honoree of the night was U2. In a video taped Saturday, U2 guitarist The Edge noted that a group of four “Irish lads” were being honored for contributions to American culture and said there’s a bond between the group and America that can’t really be explained.
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder sang U2′s “Elevation” and “One.” Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen brought his alter ego Borat to the stage as part of the U2 tribute, pretending to mistake Biden for former President Donald Trump. Singers Brandi Carlile, Hozier and Jamala — from the U.S., Ireland and Ukraine, respectively — closed out the show with an emotional version of “Walk On.”…
This weekend, we celebrate #GeorgeClooney at the 45th #KCHonors. 🎸🎶🌈
Hear how the actor, filmmaker & humanitarian pays it forward, and tune in Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. EST as a star-studded #KennedyCenterHonors lineup pays tribute on @CBS and @paramountplus! https://t.co/PX6nFDZ2Ls
— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) December 3, 2022
Gladys Knight being honored by President Biden at The White House for the Kennedy Center Honors today. pic.twitter.com/tEPoy7fuOe
— as told by travis. (@travisfromthebk) December 4, 2022
Harry honoring U2 in a video at the Kennedy Center Honors event tonight.
🎥: newdreamstonight pic.twitter.com/bcMY2yCXGW
— HL Daily Media (@HLDMedia) December 5, 2022
I was so honored to perform #Tumbao for the great #tanialeon at the #KennedyCenterHonors pic.twitter.com/k1sKvYnXTZ
— Chloe Flower (@ChloeFlower) December 5, 2022
.@brandicarlile – lovely as always – is here to honor @amygrant at the #KennedyCenterHonors. Said she had a hard time picking which song to sing because she knows them all so well. pic.twitter.com/Zno8b3mRAt
— Melissa Ruggieri (@MRuggieriUSAT) December 4, 2022
My VP is bringing back gloves class realness in the White House. #KennedyCenterHonors pic.twitter.com/rkw1VEyTOw
— NELSON M (@CoolSensAsn66) December 4, 2022
Crowd applauded when Dr. Fauci arrived at Kennedy Center Honors pic.twitter.com/oxKQVTxKj5
— Emily Goodin (@Emilylgoodin) December 4, 2022
Pete and Chasten Buttigieg on the red carpet at Kennedy Center Honors pic.twitter.com/fHzDW6qIHl
— Emily Goodin (@Emilylgoodin) December 4, 2022
So this is kind of amazing: George Clooney was among the honorees at tonight’s Kennedy Center Honors, so Julia Roberts wore a custom Moschino gown adorned with … framed photos of George Clooney. Great sense of humor … #KennedyCenterHonors pic.twitter.com/UaM3R6c7IC
— 🌻🌻 Laurie Brookins 🌻🌻 (@StyleWriterNYC) December 5, 2022
Monday Morning Open Thread: The Kennedy Center Honors CeremonyPost + Comments (137)