President Obama Sings Sondheim, Streisand and Estefan's Praises at Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

Among the 17 recipients of the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented tonight in a ceremony at the White House, were Broadway legends Stephen Sondheim and Barbra Streisand, as well as pop star and ON YOUR FEET! creator Gloria Estefan. President Barack Obama took a moment to say a few words about each honoree before doling out the awards.

Talking about Barbra Streisand, President Obama remarked: "Born in Brooklyn to a middle-class Jewish family -- I didn't know you were Jewish, Barbra -- Barbra Streisand attended her first Broadway show at age 14 and remembers thinking, 'I could go up on that stage and play any role without any trouble at all.' That's what's called chutzpah. And it helps when you've got amazing talent, all of which made her a global sensation -- one whose voice has been described as 'liquid diamonds,' and whose fans have considered bronzing her used coffee cups. She has sold more albums in America than any woman in history. She has collected just about every honor and award that there is. I couldn't believe she hadn't gotten this one. Off the stage, she has been a passionate advocate for issues like heart disease and women's equality. I'm getting all 'verklempt' just thinking about it."

Discussing Gloria and Emilio Estefan's rise to fame, the president said: "On a Miami night in 1975, a young woman named Gloria walked into a wedding reception and saw a handsome young man named Emilio leading his band. He was playing "Do the Hustle" -- on an accordion. I'm quoting her now -- she said she found this 'sexy and brave.' (Laughter.) I mean, the brave part I understand. But it turns out he had a few other things up his sleeve. He brought her up to sing a few songs that night, invited her to join his band. A few months later, Emilio asked Gloria for a birthday kiss. It was not her birthday -- it wasn't his birthday. But he got the kiss anyway. And Emilio and Gloria Estefan have been partners -- on and off-stage -- ever since. Some worried they were 'too American for Latins and too Latin for Americans.' Turns out everybody just wanted to dance and do the conga. And together, their fusion sound has sold more than 100 million records. And as proud Cuban-Americans, they've promoted their cultural heritage and inspired fans all over the world.

The president waxed poetic about Stephen Sondheim's singular talent, saying: "As a composer and a lyricist, and a genre unto himself, Sondheim challenges his audiences. His greatest hits aren't tunes you can hum; they're reflections on roads we didn't take, and wishes gone wrong, relationships so frayed and fractured there's nothing left to do but send in the clowns. Yet Stephen's music is so beautiful, his lyrics so precise, that even as he exposes the imperfections of everyday life, he transcends them. We transcend them. Put simply, Stephen reinvented the American musical. He's loomed large over more than six decades in the theater. And with revivals from Broadway to the big screen, he is still here, pulling us up short, and giving us support for 'being alive.'"

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

In case you missed the ceremony this evening, watch it in full HERE! And for the full list of this year's recipients, follow this link.