President Obama may have been a little late for the Kennedy Center Honors, but that didn’t stop the attendees from enjoying the celebration – or Stephen Colbert from having a little fun at his expense.
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President Barack Obama attended the event with his wife Michelle after delivering a rare primetime address in the wake of a brutal mass shooting in California that he described as an “act of terrorism”.
The 2015 Kennedy Center Honorees, from left, Seiji Ozawa, Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas and Cicely Tyson pose for a group photo following the State Department Dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington.
“George Lucas’ Star Wars absolutely changed films forever”, while Martin Scorsese called him “a hero to young people all over the world”.
Moreno is one of a handful of artists to win an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony.
During a ceremony for the honorees late Sunday afternoon at the White House, Obama said Lucas created films with “timeless themes and cutting-edge technology”.
Lin-Manuel Miranda praised Moreno as a pioneer: “She takes the stage, she commands attention, she speaks for us and she tells the truth”, he said. He went on to lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 29 years. At age 90, she’s now starring on Broadway alongside James Earl Jones in “The Gin Game“. “For six decades, she has been diligent in her pursuit to better us all”.
Singer-songwriter Carole King was also an honoree.
Obama said King’s first solo album, “Tapestry“, was one of the first albums he ever bought; it’s also one of the highest-selling albums of any genre.
Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors were filled with moments both light and moving.
The Eagles were unable to appear at the gala to accept their honours this year (15) as bandmate Glenn Frey faces health issues.
Aretha Franklin, wearing a full-length fur coat over her evening gown, closed the show with a performance of a song that she immortalized: “Natural Woman”, leading to a prolonged standing ovation.
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The event is televised in the US on 29 December (15).
