Must-See Key Moments From the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors

Get the inside preview on America's top culture awards show, airing Dec. 22

Cindy Clark Kramer,

AARP

Comments

En español

Published December 09, 2024

the people honored at the kennedy center honors

Michele Crowe/CBS

The energy was electric at the Kennedy Center's 47th annual national celebration of the arts on Dec. 8, which honored the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, 81, Bill Kreutzmann, 78, the late Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir, 77; filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, 85; blues singer Bonnie Raitt, 75, jazz musician Arturo Sandoval, 75; and The Apollo Theater, which received a special Honors as an iconic American institution.

The Honorees received their rainbow ribbon-adorned medallions at a ceremony Dec. 7 at the U.S. Department of State, and were received at a White House reception prior to their arrival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. A dazzling lineup of A-list talents showed up to pay tribute to the honorees.

The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors airs at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on Dec. 22 on CBS. Here are the top moments that everyone will be talking about:

Queen Latifah at at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Joy Asico-Smith/CBS

The Queen gave Bonnie Raitt a royal introduction

Queen Latifah, 54, who received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2023, took her first turn as Honors host, kicking off the night by declaring, “Let’s party!" and then launching right into the opening number, singing Raitt’s 1991 hit “Something to Talk About.” After each Honoree was introduced, Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, 60, received a roaring applause from the crowd. President Joe Biden, 82, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, 73, were also greeted with a huge applause in their final Honors show of his presidential term. The U.S. Marine Band played the National Anthem to honor Biden’s many years of service.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, called Raitt an “old soul” who has the “widest musical range of any popular artist I can think of. She connects to all of us in such a singular way.” Louis-Dreyfus noted that the blues singer was “entirely authentic” and “all red hair and no bull [expletive].”

Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris.

Joy Asico-Smith/CBS

Dave Matthews gave Raitt a Quaker salute

Dave Matthews, 57, and Emmylou Harris, 77, teamed up on stage to give a soulful rendition of John Prine's “Angel from Montgomery," another iconic Raitt hit. Matthews spoke of how he, like Raitt, was raised Quaker, who “value everyone as equal” and “believe in peace above all things on earth.” He said he listened to Raitt’s music growing up in apartheid South Africa and thanked her for “shining your light on the world.” Brandi Carlile sang "I Can't Make You Love Me” accompanied on the piano by Sheryl Crow, 62.

Arturo Sandoval blessed America, and got ribbed by Andy Garcia

In a video clip from Saturday’s ceremony at the State Department, Sandoval spoke of “the most beautiful art form, which is music.” He brought along his trumpet and played “God Bless America,” a touching performance which was met with much applause. On the Kennedy Center stage, musician Chris Botti, 62, declared Sandoval “the trumpet master," before performing "Smile" on his own trumpet.Sandoval’s tribute also included an all-star band featuring Trombone Shorty and pianist Chucho Valdes, 83, from Sandoval's original band, and a flamenco dance performance by Timo Nunez. Andy Garcia, 68, joked that “Arturo spoke very little English when he first came to America from Cuba all those years ago. But now his English ... is much worse.”

Dave Chappelle

Joy Asico-Smith/CBS

Savion Glover and Dave Chappelle gave props to the Legendary Apollo

The Honors bestowed on the Apollo is significant as it marks the first time the Kennedy Center has chosen to honor a specific venue. The Harlem theater was paramount in launching Black artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne. The Apollo is “still burning bright, lighting the way for those who dream,” said Latifah.

“It’s my job tonight to hype y’all up,” said comedian Dave Chappelle, 51, who recalled his first Apollo performance. “It went so bad,” he said of his 15-year-old self. “Everybody started booing. It was like I was outside my body watching,” he said. “That night was the night that I first had the courage to be myself.”

Savion Glover, 51, took his tap shoes to the stage to honor the Apollo, while husband and wife duo The War and Treaty performed songs by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and received a standing ovation from the audience.

George Lucas hailed Francis Ford Coppola's Fearless Cliff-Diving Prowess

Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro, 81, George Lucas, 80, Al Pacino, 84, and Martin Scorsese, 82, all showed up for Coppola’s tribute. De Niro spoke of how Coppola “generously brings all of us into his world,” and “nothing is impossible for Francis.” Lucas called him a “visionary filmmaker," adding that “what Francis does creatively is jump off cliffs…When you spend enough time with Francis, you begin to believe you can jump off cliffs, too.” Pacino said, “Francis did fight to keep me [in The Godfather], and others. Francis fights for his art.”

Fans Nancy Pelosi and Chloe Sevigny Expressed Their Gratitude to the Grateful Dead

A video clip played showing “Deadheads,” as Grateful Dead fans are affectionately known, including Nancy Pelosi, 84, Norah Jones, and John Mayer, who spoke of their enduring love for the legendary rock band. Pelosi called the group “multi-generational.” Mayer noted, “If someone says to me, ‘I’m not a Deadhead,’ I go, ‘yet.’” Actress Chloe Sevigny, 50, recounted her experiences going to Grateful Dead concerts: “I’ve never felt such a level of camaraderie as I felt among Deadheads."

David Letterman

Joy Asico-Smith/CBS

Letterman poked fun at the powerful

David Letterman, 77, stepped onto the stage and immediately announced that he was “so [expletive] up!” which made the audience laugh. “I’d like to apologize to President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and of course, Doug.” He joked that the Kennedy Center was trying to get as many Honors ceremonies in as possible before Trump's inauguration (Trump did not attend an Honors event during his first term as president.)

The rousing finale was a Dead classic, followed by a tasty scoop of Cherry Garcia

To close out the show, it was only fitting to have a performance of “Not Fade Away” – the same Buddy Holly number that honorees The Grateful Dead have used to close out so many of their own concerts. Performers included Dave Matthews, Maggie Rogers, and Derek Trucks. And at the Kennedy Center, much like at the Dead concerts, everyone ended the night up on their feet. And many afterwards grabbed a scoop of “Cherry Garcia” — a sweet homage to the band's late lead singer Jerry Garcia — at a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream station on their way out.

%{postComment}%