At a ceremony held in the East Room of the White House prior to the official presentation of this year's Kennedy Center honors last night, President Obama welcomed the guests and praised the recipients of this year's distinguished award.
The Honors recipients are recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts – whether in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures or television – and are selected by the Center’s Board of Trustees. The primary criterion in the selection process is excellence. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement; the selection process, over the years, has produced balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Cal Ripkin

Cal Ripkin & wife

Robert A. Altman & Lynda Carter

Robert A. Altman & Lynda Carter

Vernon Jordan & wife

Vernon Jordan & wife

Vernon Jordan & wife

David Gregory & wife

Billy Connolly & wife Pamela Stephenson Connolly

Jimmy Kimmel & girlfriend Molly McNearney

Jimmy Kimmel & girlfriend Molly McNearney

Anna Romano & Ray Romano

Anna Romano & Ray Romano

Jack Black & wife Tanya Haden

Robert De Niro & wife Grace Hightower

Robert De Niro & wife Grace Hightower

Itzhak Perlman & wife Toby

Stephen Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert

Stephen Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert

Yo-Yo Ma & daughter

Yo-Yo Ma wife, Jill Horner & daughter

Kid Rock and his mother Susan Ritchie

Kid Rock and his mother Susan Ritchie

George Stevens Jr. and wife

Joshua Bell & Larisa Martinez

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