Stars who deserve a Kennedy Center Honor

[Zamedy154]

Gloria is certainly deserving but perhaps a little young, no? And LL Cool J? Really? Several very deserving entertainers come to mind who (correct me if I'm wrong) never were honored in their lifetime or have yet to be honored.

Ethel Merman (Mary Martin but not Ethel?)
Bette Midler
Cher

Anyone else? Thoughts?

[RJ14]

I think they only choose to honour the people who are still alive so no Merman. this has been said for many times before but: Carol Channing!! 

[madbrian]

Cher is the most egregious omission. Ron Howard also deserves it.

[ACL2006]

I think I could easily list 50 or more people that should be honored before LL Cool J.

[Zamedy154]

I'll add another I just thought of...

Betty White. She is an American institution.

[smidge]

The filmed package for LL Cool J in tonight's telecast more than justifies his inclusion. Any opinions to the contrary just demonstrate the extreme ignorance of music history from some members of the board.

[Impeach2017]

The whole affair seems a bit unfair to the already dead.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

Betty and Bette for sure.

[fashionguru_23]

Liza May Minnelli

[Dancingthrulife2]

Hopefully whoever is going to be honored can stick out a little longer so they don't have to be honored by you know who.

[uncageg]

ACL2006 said: "I think I could easily list 50 or more people that should be honored before LL Cool J."

 

Agreed. I would love to see George Clinton get honered. Also I think Rod Temperton should have gotten one although he is from England and not sure he was eligible. He wfote some of Michael Jackson's grsatest hits and worked with Quincey Jones. He wrote a lot of classic R&B songs.

 

[Jarethan]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Betty and Bette for sure."

I agree with Bette, but Betty?  Because she has lived so long?    She is a supporting player in a bunch of TV shows.

Carol Channing's portfolio is too narrow.  Never gonna happen and shouldn't.

Re Broadway regulars / occasionals, where are Glenn Close, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Sally Field, Jessica Lange, (a stretch) Kevin Kline and Rosemary Harris?

I also agree re Cher...absolutely.   Don't agree re Liza...she sorta destroyed her career at some point and has been a caricature since then IMO.  In don't think Tommy Tune will get it, but -- had he not essentially retired X years ago -- I imagine he would have been a serious candidate.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Jarethan said: "I agree with Bette, but Betty? Because she has lived so long? She is a supporting player in a bunch of TV shows."

Betty has been an icon of American culture for decades. She may not have had a bona fide leading role, but her career is unbelievable, and if a Kennedy Center Honor is about contributing to American culture, Betty White—from Mary Tyler Moore to Golden Girls to everything else—has done just that.

I'll also second your Glenn Close vote

[kade.ivy]

I’m surprised Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz haven’t been honored for their contributions to both theatre and film.

I’ll also second Patti and Bernadette.

Moving totally away from theatre, country legend George Strait seems like a glaring omission from the list of past honorees from the music business.

[The Other One]

Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald and Lin Manuel Miranda seem the strongest contenders of people who are currently and regularly working in theater.  Harvey Feinstein, Bernadette Peters and Bryan Cranston are definite possibilities.  Frank Langella would be a great choice, but he just might be too "New York."  

By the way, Mary Martin was nearing the end of her life when she received her Kennedy Center Honor, and Ethel Merman had passed away several years earlier. 

[adamgreer]

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Hopefully whoever is going to be honored can stick out a little longer so they don't have to be honored by you know who."

None of this year’s honorees were honored by the Idiot, as at least two of them claimed they would have declined the honor had he participated. 

The sitting President has no official role in selecting or honoring anyone. He has, historically, until this year, held a White House reception and attended the ceremony. This year, there was no White House reception and Rex Tillerson and the State Department hosted the dinner. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Mark Hamil?

[CindersGolightly]

Leigh Conroy.

[brendasugarbaker]

Away from the theatre, I believe RuPaul could deserve it. He's been a household name and it takes someone very special to bring the art of drag to the mainstream

[poisonivy2]

Ben Vereen? 

[ACL2006]

I wasn't saying LL Cool J didn't deserve to be honored. Just that there's a long list of people that should have been honored before him. LL probably could've waited 10 years or so before being honored(he's only 49).

[Miles2Go2]

My favorite moments were the tributes to Norman Lear, Carmen de Lavallade, and Lionel Richie.

I agree with Cher. Bette, and many of the Broadway names mentioned.

It’s a shame that Prince was never honored (I believe I’m correct in that).

Has Bruce Springsteen been honored? He should be.

I know she is polarizing but I also think Madonna deserves to be honored for the breadth of her career as well as her bravery in tackling issues related to sexuality especially LGBT rights. But even now, she may be too controversial for the Kennedy Honors.

Also, from last night, I wondered, has Harry Belafonte been honored? If not, they better jump to it! He’s 90!

[The Other One]

Springsteen and Belafonte have been honored, yes.  Bruce during the Obama years, Belafonte way back in 1989.

[bwaylyric]

Barry Manilow?

[Miles2Go2]

The Other One said: "Springsteen and Belafonte have been honored, yes. Bruce during the Obama years, Belafonte way back in 1989."

Thanks! I watch every year, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.