In Washington last night, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts held its annual ceremony to honor visionaries in the performing arts for their lifetime achievements. This year’s Kennedy Center Honors were bestowed on singer Barbara Cook; singer and songwriter Neil Diamond; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins; and actress Meryl Streep.
Hosted by Caroline Kennedy, the star-studded evening was a warm celebration as fellow performers, friends, and fans paid tribute through live performances. The honorees were seated next to President Obama and First Lady Michelle, and were joined by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who flew home from Myanmar for a 36-hour stop in the capital to join the celebration and serve as a punchline, the Associated Press reported. Extolling Streep, Nora Ephron joked that with the actress's talent and resemblance to the former first lady, it was "inevitable" that Streep would someday portray her in a film. "The Devil Wears Prada" co-stars Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway, along with Kevin Kline and Stanley Tucci also honored Streep with a musical performance.
"They have different talents, and they've travelled different paths, and yet they belong here together because each of tonight's honourees has felt the need to express themselves and share that expression with the world." President Obama said of the recipients. Departing from his prepared statements, he also jokingly confessed his longstanding attraction to Streep. "Anybody who saw 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' had a crush on her," the president joked, as reported by CBC News.
Kennedy, the namesake of Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” praised the songwriter, calling him “a Brooklyn lad with a gift of melody who grew into a solitary man, 'reaching out, touching me’,” which resulted in roaring laughter from the crowd. After a video tribute, Glenn Close showered Cook, whom the movie star referred to as an iconic Broadway figure, with accolades. "I think we have the biggest respect for her because she really has survived, survived and prevailed," Close said, referring to Cook’s decade-long battle with drinking and depression. Benny Golson and Herbie Hancock honored Rollins through performances of his songs as saxophonist and former President Bill Clinton, who said he had been a fan of Rollins's since his teenage years, said, "His music can bend your mind, it can break your heart, and it can make you laugh out loud. He has done things with improvisation that really no one has ever done."
After the myriad performances of the evening, the gala’s finale was when Ma stepped to the stage and received the most surprising tribute of the night — a collaborative performance by Stephen Colbert (who said, "Tonight we celebrate the greatest living cellist. We chell-ebrate, if you will") and Elmo, who was appropriately clad in a Muppet-sized tuxedo.
CBS will broadcast the show on Dec. 27.