Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, jam band the Grateful Dead, singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, jazz performer Arturo Sandoval and New York theater The Apollo will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievement. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts gives out the honors, which happens December 8 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington. 

The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS Monday, December 23. Paramount Plus will stream the event live. 

The Kennedy Center Honors "recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world,” according to the Kennedy Center. 

Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bobby Weir are the living members of the Grateful Dead. The Apollo will be honored as “an iconic American institution,” the Kennedy Center said. 

The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will be produced by Done+Dusted for a third year, in association with ROK Productions. The event will be executive produced by David Jammy, Elizabeth Kelly and Jack Sussman and directed by Alex Rudzinski.

The 2024 host has not been named. 

Last year’s honorees were actor and comedian Billy Crystal, soprano Renee Fleming, singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, rapper and actress Queen Latifah and singer Dionne Warwick. 

Gloria Estefan hosted last year’s event. 

CBS will air The 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Wednesday, December 27, as actor and comedian Billy Crystal, soprano Renee Fleming, singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, rapper and actress Queen Latifah and singer Dionne Warwick get honored. 

Gloria Estefan hosts. 

Paramount Plus streams The Kennedy Center Honors live. The event goes for two hours. 

The Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington hosts the event on December 3. It will also honor the 50th anniversary of hip hop.

The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose contributions have “shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world,” according to the Kennedy Center. “Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts. Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree has a unique place in the national consciousness and their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of life.”

Done+Dusted will produce the special in association with ROK Productions. Elizabeth Kelly executive produces with David Jammy. Alex Rudzinski is the director.

George Clooney, U2, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant and Tania Leon were toasted at The 45th Kennedy Center Honors in 2022. 

CBS has broadcast the Kennedy Center Honors for 45 years. 

Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal, Barry Gibb, Dionne Warwick and Renée Fleming will receive the 46th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. The Washington event happens December 3 and will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus on a later date. 

Gloria Estefan hosts for the third time. She was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017. 

CBS Mornings shared the honoree news June 22. 

“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes artists who have made profound contributions to the cultural life of our nation,” said Kennedy Center chairman David M. Rubenstein. “A true comedic icon and multi-talented artist since the 1980s who has kept millions laughing around the world, Billy Crystal is responsible for some of the most memorable stand-up moments and hilarious Hollywood scenes in the last half-century. Barry Gibb, along with his late brothers Robin and Maurice, set the music world on fire in the ‘60s and later defined the modern dance era with their trademark falsetto sound and groove style, becoming a pop superstar group for the ages. Fittingly known as ‘America’s soprano,’ the beloved opera star Renée Fleming has captivated audiences worldwide with her luminous voice, incomparable artistry and a knack for bringing opera into the mainstream for more than four decades. As the ‘First Lady of Hip Hop,’ Queen Latifah shaped and innovated the art form in its earliest days, representing Black women everywhere and using the idiom to become a powerful voice for change. And soulful songstress Dionne Warwick has blazed a trail with her signature voice, scintillating presence and trove of hits that has become a soundtrack of inspiration for generations of artists and audiences.”  

Queen Latifah stars in The Equalizer on CBS.  

The event happens at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington. The honorees sit in the Box Tier of the opera house, then have dinner in the Grand Foyer.

“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world. Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts,” the Kennedy Center said. 

George Clooney, U2, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant and Tania Leon were honored last year. 

The Kennedy Center Honors will be produced by Done+Dusted in association with ROK Productions. Elizabeth Kelly executive produces with David Jammy. Alex Rudzinski directs.

George Clooney, U2, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant and Tania Leon will receive the 45th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement. CBS has broadcast the Kennedy Center Honors for 45 years. The special will air during the 2022-2023 season; no broadcast date has been set. Paramount Plus will stream the event live. 

The Kennedy Center Honors happens Sunday, December 4, at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, DC.

“Whether saving humanity, masterminding a heist or captaining a ship in dangerous seas, actor George Clooney’s unique brand of earnest charisma and his complete embodiment of a character has led us to root for him every time; multiplatinum singer-songwriter Amy Grant became the first artist to bring contemporary Christian music to the forefront of American culture, then equally thrived after crossing over into mainstream pop with hit after hit, and today is revered as the ‘Queen of Christian Pop’; in her 55-year music career, legendary singer and America’s beloved ‘Empress of Soul’ Gladys Knight went from the Pips of Georgia to Grammy royalty, showcasing a boundless vocal range and soulfulness that has stood the test of time; a brave, young Cuban refugee-turned-Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and music ambassador, Tania León has blessed America for more than five decades with her astoundingly original compositions and continues to be a major influence on classical music; and one of most influential rock bands of the modern rock era, U2, won over America and the world long ago with their iconic anthems, potent lyrics and powerful messages of social justice and global citizenship–earning a musical legacy that crosses generations, inspires and unites,” said Kennedy Center chairman David M. Rubenstein. 

Done+Dusted is the executive producer of the telecast, with ROK Productions producing as well. Elizabeth Kelly of ROK will executive produce with David Jammy and Ian Stewart. The show will be directed by Alex Rudzinski. 

The 2021 honorees were Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Justino Diaz and Berry Gordy. Last year’s event was on TV December 22. ■

CBS has The 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Berry Gordy and opera singer Justino Diaz were honored at the Dec. 5 event.

David Letterman, a 2012 Kennedy Center honoree, handled welcoming duties at the gala.

Steve Martin, Jimmy Fallon, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Kenan Thompson, Amy Poehler, Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Kevin Nealon, Seth Meyers and Kristen Wiig introduced Michaels, creator of Saturday Night Live, and Paul Simon performed. 

Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, Melissa Manchester and Barbara Hershey introduced Midler. 

Cameron Crowe and Dan Levy presented Joni Mitchell. 

Smokey Robinson presented Berry Gordy, the founder of record label Motown. Robinson and Stevie Wonder were among the performers on behalf of Gordy. 

Grace Bumbry, Denyce Graves and Chita Rivera presented Diaz. 

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were in the audience. 

White Cherry Entertainment produces the Kennedy Center Honors. ■