The Kennedy Center Honors
Event Information
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Genre
Music
Announcing the 43rd Kennedy Center Honorees
Announcing the 43rd Kennedy Center Honorees
In a unique ceremony befitting our times, we will celebrate these legends of music, dance, theater, and film.
Get Special Access Beyond the Broadcast
This year, we look forward to inviting you to participate in the 43rd Honors through exclusive virtual experiences and events. Enjoy special behind-the-scenes access to our Honorees and the making of the television broadcast.
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2019 Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors celebrates the contributions and careers of artists who have left an indelible mark on our shared American culture and character.
Honors Memories
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Honors Memories - Carole King and Tribute by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin performs live for Carole King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.
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Recaps of Past Years
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PLAYLIST: Kennedy Center Honors Playlist of 2019 Moments
Watch highlights from 2019, including interviews with the performers and reactions from the honorees.
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Honors Highlights of 2018
Honorees include singer and actress Cher, composer and pianist Philip Glass, Country music entertainer Reba McEntire, and jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.
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Honors Highlights of 2017
Honorees include dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, singer-songwriter and actress Gloria Estefan, hip hop artist and entertainment icon LL COOL J, television writer and producer Norman Lear, and musician and record producer Lionel Richie.
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Honors Highlights of 2016
Honorees include pianist Martha Argerich, rock band the Eagles, screen and stage actor Al Pacino, gospel and blues singer Mavis Staples, and musician James Taylor.
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Honors Highlights of 2015
Honorees include singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa, and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson.
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Honors Highlights of 2014
Honorees include singer Al Green, actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, singer-songwriter Sting, and comedienne Lily Tomlin.
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Honors Highlights of 2013
Honorees include opera singer Martina Arroyo; pianist, keyboardist, bandleader and composer Herbie Hancock; pianist, singer and songwriter Billy Joel; actress Shirley MacLaine; and musician and songwriter Carlos Santana.
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Honors Highlights of 2012
Honorees include bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova, and rock band Led Zeppelin for their contributions to the arts.
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Honors Highlights of 2011
Honorees include Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Sonny Rollins, Meryl Streep, and Yo-Yo Ma.
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Honors Highlights of 2010
Honorees include Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman, Bill T. Jones, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey.
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Honors Highlights of 2009
Honorees include Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert DeNiro, and Bruce Springsteen.
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Great Performances
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History of the Kennedy Center Honors
Throughout its 40-year history, the Kennedy Center Honors has redefined America's perception of its artistic legacy and reinvented the way this nation rewards its artists. The Honors have been compared to a knighthood in Britain, or the French Legion of Honor--the quintessential reward for a lifetime's endeavor. At the same time, the annual addition of new names to the roster of Honors recipients charts the international standard of excellence set by America's artists, as well as the aesthetic inspiration provided by artists of other nations who have achieved prominence on these shores.
The annual Honors gala is an evening without categories, without disappointments, and without competition. And the Honors telecast, aired during the week between Christmas and New Year's, is a perennial Emmy nominee. It serves for millions of American arts lovers as the year's crowning event, paying tribute to our nation's preeminent artists with performances by the great stars of today who have followed in their footsteps. The complete list of guest performers is kept secret until the show is in progress, keeping both the Honorees and the nation on the edge of their seats.
Past Honorees
Throughout the years, the Kennedy Center Honors has upheld a tradition of recognizing the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our nations' most-prestigious artists. Find out more about past Honorees by clicking on a name below.
Terms and Conditions
All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.
Sponsors
Thank you to the following Sponsors
The Exclusive Sponsor of the Kennedy Center Honors CBS Corporation
The Exclusive Underwriter of the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Boeing
The Official Airline of the Kennedy Center Honors Delta Air Lines
The Kennedy Center Honors Founding Producer is George Stevens, Jr.
43rd Kennedy Center Honors Gala Chair
Iris Smith