The Kennedy Center Honors, the prestigious annual event honoring achievement in the arts, will be broadcast on CBS-TV on December 27th. The ceremony itself will be held at the famed Washington D.C performing arts complex on December 4th.
Produced and co-written by George Stevens, Jr., the two-hour TV presentation of the 2005 Kennedy Center Honors will air at 9 PM. This year's recipients are jazz/pop troubadour Tony Bennett, ballet dancer and teacher Suzanne Farrell, five-time Tony Award-winning actress Julie Harris, actor, director and producer Robert Redford and singer Tina Turner. Stars from many branches of the performing arts will appear at the ceremony.The five honorees will be given their awards at December 3rd State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. On December 4th, before the ceremony, the stars will be greeted by President George and First Lady Laura Bush."We honor five extraordinary American artists whose unique and abundant
contributions to our culture have transformed our lives. Tony Bennett
is a brilliant musician and singer's singer whom even the great Frank
Sinatra called the best there is; Suzanne Farrell's profound artistry
has inspired the creation of masterpieces and is teaching ballet to a
new generation; for half a century, the enchanting Julie Harris has
been one of this country's most acclaimed and revered actors; Robert
Redford is an actor/director whose extraordinary support of independent
film has had an immeasurable impact on filmmakers and audiences alike;
and Tina Tuner's sizzling talent and indomitable spirit has made her
one of the world's best-loved entertainer," stated Stephen A. Schwarzman, the chairman of the Kennedy Center.