VIDEO: Tom Hanks Talks Kennedy Center Honor: 'It's Very Special'

Actor Tom Hanks was among the five people honored Sunday evening at the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors held in Washington DC. The Oscar winner spoke to ET about what the award meant to him on the event's red carpet.

"It's very special to look out at a bunch of people," said Hanks, "and there's my wife and my five kids all together." Check out the interview below!

Eminent artists, friends and peers of this year's five honorees gathered in Washington, D.C. (Dec. 7) to present entertaining and heartfelt tributes at THE 37TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, an entertainment special to be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 30 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The annual event recognizes recipients for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures and television. In keeping with tradition, the roster of performers and presenters remained secret prior to the gala, and a short biographical film was featured during each honoree's tribute.

Performers and presenters included Jared Angle, Christine Baranski, Laura Benanti, Jeffrey Cirio, Misty Copeland, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jane Fonda, Lady Gaga, Whoopi Goldberg,Herbie Hancock, Jennifer Hudson, Garrison Keillor, David Letterman, Lauren Lovette, Jane Lynch, Bruno Mars, Reba McEntire, Kate McKinnon, Sam Moore, Jessie Mueller, Kelli O'Hara, Tiler Peck, Pentatonix, Martin Short, Esperanza Spalding, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Meryl Streep and Usher.

President and Mrs. Barack Obama were seated with the honorees in the Presidential Box of the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, after hosting the traditional White House reception for the honorees.

Source: ET