Barack Obama News

Singer Al Green; actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks; ballerina Patricia McBride; singer-songwriter Sting; and comedienne Lily Tomlin received honors for 2014 on THE 37TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, to be broadcast Tuesday, Dec. 30 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. CBS has broadcast the special each year since its debut 37 years ago.

In an exclusive interview with BET Networks, President Barack Obama addressed community concerns and calls for justice and equality after recent grand jury decisions.

TheWrap revealed today that CNN political anchor Candy Crowley will be leaving CNN. No word yet on who will replace her after nearly three decades on the job.

Come celebrate the one and only Broadway legend CHITA RIVERA in a unique solo concert event celebrating her 80th Birthday, coming to The Alden in McLean for one night only on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and more information at www.aldentheatre.org or 703-790-0123.

James Franco hosts Saturday Night Live with musical guest Nicki Minaj on Saturday, December 6. Check out promos for the upcoming broadcast featuring SNL's Cecily Strong below!

The first presidential portraits created from 3-D scan data are now on display in the Smithsonian Castle. The portraits of President Barack Obama were created based on data collected by a Smithsonian-led team of 3-D digital imaging specialists and include a digital and 3-D printed bust and life mask. A new video released today by the White House details the behind-the-scenes process of scanning, creating and printing the historic portraits. The portraits will be on view in the Commons gallery of the Castle starting today, Dec. 2, through Dec. 31. The portraits were previously displayed at the White House Maker Faire June 18.

Just in time to cure the post-midterm-election blues, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present D.C.'s funniest singing comedians, The Capitol Steps, today and Saturday, Nov. 28-29.

1812 Productions is thrilled to present the ninth annual production of its smash political comedy This Is The Week That Is. This Is The Week That Is is a trademark 1812 production, presenting all the news that's fit to skewer. A stylistic marriage between The Carol Burnett Show and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, This Is The Week That Is continues to keep Philadelphians up to speed on all things political by revealing the truth behind the headlines.

Scroll down for the highlights from the President's remarks on entertainment icons Meryl Streep, Stevie Wonder, Alvin Ailey and Marlo Thomas!

Today, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a special ceremony at the White House. With Ms. Thomas as its envoy to millions of supporters, St. Jude has become the global resource leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Scroll down for photos!

President Barack Obama awarded eighteen recipients with the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom today, November 24, at the White House in Washington, D.C. Legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who was set to be the nineteenth honoree, could not attend the event and will receive the award next year instead.

?President Barack Obama previously named nineteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 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. The awards will be presented at the White House today, November 24th.

On SNL's Weekend Update last night, Nov. 22, Michael Che had some angry words for Bill Cosby - "Pull your pants up!" - but admitted that he had some mixed feelings about TVLand pulling all the episodes of The Cosby Show. Check out the clip below!

Last night, Nov. 22, Cameron Diaz hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with musical guests Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. Below, watch as SNL parodies Schoolhouse Rock, in which a bill (Kenan Thompson) and an executive order (Bobby Moynihan) explain how government really works with a little help from President Obama (Jay Pharaoh).

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 60th Anniversary Season today, November 22, 2014 at 2pm with Black Violin. Three-time winners of Amateur Night at the Apollo, this classically trained violin duo inspires young people to get fired up about classical music with their unique fusion of classical, hip-hop, jazz, blues, and R&B. Recommended for ages eight and up.

Nobel Peace Prize Concert organizers announced today that iconic songwriter and prolific singer Steven Tyler, hip-hop star Queen Latifah, Bollywood sensation Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, British soul singer Laura Mvula, Norway's Gabrielle, the inspirational Girls of The World, and a sparkling Bollywood number will entertain audiences at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on December 11th in the Oslo Spektrum arena. It was announced earlier that the Concert will be hosted by Queen Latifah.

Cameron Diaz hosts Saturday Night Live with musical guests Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars on Saturday, November 22 at 11:30/10:30c. Below, watch Diaz guide Ronson and Mars through promos for the upcoming broadcast!

SNL returns December 6 with James Franco making his third appearance as host. Franco will next be seen alongside Seth Rogen in the feature film "The Interview," in theaters December 25.

In the sketch which was cut from last weekend's live broadcast of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Rebecca (Aidy Bryant) marks her 10,000th Tweet with President Obama (Jay Pharoah), Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Kate McKinnon), Edward Norton and God (Woody Harrelson).

Telemundo announced that it will broadcast President Barack Obama's speech to the nation in which he is expected to issue an executive order on immigration, live from Washington, D.C. this Thursday, November 20 at 8 PM EST (7 PM Central, 5 PM Pacific).