“The Kennedy Center Honors returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala Sunday night and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016,” write Ashraf Khalil and Colleen Long in Monday’s (12/6) Associated Press. “The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence were presented to Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, ‘Saturday Night Live’ mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell. This year’s event at the Kennedy Center’s main opera house represented a return to political normalcy, with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attending…. Last year, the pandemic forced a delay and major changes to the program…. Prior to the Kennedy Center event, Biden revived another tradition … and held a White House reception for the honorees…. ‘Our nation is stronger, more dynamic and more vibrant because of you,’ Biden told the honorees…. Sunday’s ceremony, which will be broadcast Dec. 22 by CBS, is the centerpiece of the Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary of cultural programming. The center opened in 1971.”
Change font size
