President lauds Kennedy Center honorees
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, and former President Bill Clinton, right, pose with the 2011 Kennedy Center Honorees, front row from left, Sonny Rollins and Barbara Cook, back row from left, Yo-Yo Ma, Meryl Streep and Neil Diamond, at the State Department following a dinner and reception in Washington. (Dec. 3, 2011) Credit: AP
President Barack Obama in lauding the actors, musicians and others receiving Kennedy Center Honors Sunday night, also was looking for advice, according to The Associated Press.
"Everybody likes him," Obama said of Yo-Yo Ma, one of the several artists honored. "You've got to give me some tips." Obama noted that the cellist has appeared on Sesame Street and said, "I thought about asking him to go talk to Congress." Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was home for less than 36 hours between diplomatic travels but found time to honor the artists.
On Saturday night, between her historic visit to Myanmar and a trip to Germany to discuss Afghanistan's future, Clinton hosted a dinner for some big names from Broadway, jazz, pop, classical music and Hollywood. Ma, Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep also were saluted by Obama and their fellow artists with tribute performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
After visiting the Southeast Asian country also known as Burma, Clinton said such U.S. artists have worldwide influence in using their freedom of creativity and expression. "You may not know it, but somewhere in a little tiny room in Burma or even in North Korea, someone is desperately trying to hear you or to see you, to experience you," she said. "And if they are lucky enough to make that connection, it can literally change lives and countries."
Entertainers who gathered for the event include Stephen Colbert, Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman and Anne Hathaway. A surprise lineup of stars was scheduled to perform as part of the nation's highest honor for those who have defined American culture through the arts.
CBS will broadcast the show on Dec. 27.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
