Kennedy honorees: Mettle behind medals
Led Zeppelin band members from left, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page arrive at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honorees held at the Kennedy Center Hall of States in Washington, D.C. (Dec. 2, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
They're legendary talents from different disciplines. And they're all ending the year with the same, very important date.
Musicians, a singular ballerina, an iconic actor and an after-hours television fixture are in the presidential box for the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors. Taped at the start of the month in Washington, D.C., the ever-classy ceremony will have its yearly CBS telecast Wednesday at 9 p.m.
As she has since 2003, Caroline Kennedy presides over the event. Performers ranging from Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin to Bonnie Raitt, Kid Rock, Foo Fighters and Heart turn out to salute the honorees.
And just why are they the honorees this year? Here's our take on the reasons each is being presented with the medal generally considered the highest entertainment award America has to give.
Like any great band, Zeppelin had its own distinctive sound, a fusion of rock and blues. And of course, there were Robert Plant's howling vocals and Jimmy Page's searing guitar licks. But Zeppelin also had a virtuoso drummer in John Bonham, whose syncopated style gave the band its unmistakable backbone.
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