President Biden welcomed the 2023 Kennedy Center honorees to the White House on Sunday.
Each year, the Kennedy Center honors a select group of people for their artistic influence on American culture. This year’s honorees are Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick.
CBS will air the 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday, December 27th.
At Sunday’s reception, Biden spoke about the importance of the performing arts.
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“Performing art is more than just sound,” he said. “They reflect who we are as Americans. And as people. That’s especially true for more than 200 Kennedy Center honorees over the past 46 years who have helped shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other and how we see our world.” Honors aren’t just based on length her career and the scope of work that has led to greater fame, but also because of her unique place in the conscience and soul of our dynamic and diverse nation.”
Listing each honoree’s long-standing accomplishments, the president called Crystal someone who “makes everyone stop and laugh,” and said that Fleming had a voice of “pure gold,” noting that she spoke at a private mass before his inauguration performed for his family.
Biden also praised the Bee Gees’ musical and familial bond, represented by Gibb, the last surviving member of the brother trio, and called rapper Queen Latifah a “natural storyteller” and one of several Black artists “who use their art to break.” “. Removing hurdles.”
Finally, he spoke about Warwick’s achievements as a singer, highlighting her impressive career and the numerous awards she has won over the years.
“Her voice and her heart make us feel something deep within us,” he said.
Below are photos from this year’s 46th Kennedy Center Honors Gala:
President Biden speaks during the Kennedy Center Honors event at the White House in Washington, DC, USA on December 3, 2023. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Dionne Warwick and President Biden at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception at the White House on December 03, 2023 , in Washington, DC Getty Images Rapper/actress Queen Latifah attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors Gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images Opera soprano Renee Fleming attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors Gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images Billy Crystal attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors gala at the Kennedy Center on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC Getty Images Dionne Warwick attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors on December 3, 2023 Gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. KENT NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images Nancy Pelosi attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC Getty Images Amy Grant attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center on December 3, 2023 in Washington , DC Getty Images Herbie Hancock attends the 46th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Center on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC / Getty Images Kerry Washington attends the 46th Kennedy Center on December 3, 2023 in Washington, DC Honors at the Kennedy Center Getty Images More
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