Kennedy Center Honors Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal, Dionne Warwick – The Hollywood Reporter

The Kennedy Center’s newest group of honorees, including comedian Billy Crystal and actress Queen Latifah, were honored Sunday night at a star-studded ceremony commemorating their achievements in the arts and entertainment.

Opera singer Renee Fleming, music star Barry Gibb and hitmaker Dionne Warwick were also honored at the black-tie ceremony. Each received a personal tribute including appearances and performances that are usually kept secret from the honorees themselves.

President Joe Biden welcomed the honorees to the White House before the event, saying the performing arts “reflect who we are as Americans and as human beings.”

Biden, who introduced this year’s class with an array of glowing superlatives about their work, said the honorees “have helped shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other, and how we see our world.”

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden then headed to the Kennedy Center for the ceremonies. The ceremony began with 2017 Kennedy Center Laureate Gloria Estefan leading a troupe of dancers down the aisle during a performance of her mega-hit “Get on Your Feet.”

In announcing the winners earlier this year, Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter, described them as “an extraordinary combination of individuals who have redefined their art forms.”

Crystal, 75, came to national prominence in the 1970s when she played Judy Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on American network television, on the sitcom. soap. He had a short but memorable stint of one year Saturday Night Live Before he starred in a series of films, including hit films such as When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride And City coats.

On the red carpet before the screening, the film’s director Rob Reiner — who played Crystal in multiple iconic roles — poked fun at the honoree. “I hope it doesn’t give him a big head, because honestly his head is already big,” Reiner said.

Reiner later narrated much of Crystal’s tribute, speaking from a stage shaped like a replica of the diner from the famous scene in When Harry Met Sally… More testimonials came from him When Harry Co-starring Meg Ryan, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Costas, and 2009 Kennedy Center Honoree Robert De Niro. Lin-Manuel Miranda, a 2018 honoree, performed an original song in Crystal’s honor.

Crystal, who also received the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Award for Achievement in Comedy in 2007, joins an elite group of comedians who have been cited for: David Letterman, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett and Neil Simon. Bill Cosby received both honors, but they were vacated in 2018 after his sexual assault conviction, which was later overturned.

Warwick, 82, rose to stardom in the 1960s as the inspiration for the famous songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Her recordings include a string of hits spanning several decades, with and without Bacharach, which include “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”

Warwick’s tribute kicked off the show with a testimonial from 2021 award recipient Debbie Allen, a performance by Cynthia Erivo, and Saturday Night Live Cast member Ego Nwodim tells how scary it was to perform her famous Warwick impression opposite the singer herself. Gladys Knight, a 2022 Kennedy Center Laureate, performed Warwick’s signature song, “I Say a Little Prayer.”

Fleming, 64, is one of the most distinguished sopranos of her time, and has received a string of honors that include the National Medal of Arts awarded by President Barack Obama, the German government’s Legion of Merit, and honorary membership of the Royal Academy in England. Of music.

Although she has participated in five other performances honoring previous honorees, Fleming said being the center of attention has been a “wild” experience.

“It’s a different kind of whirlwind,” she said on the red carpet. “A lot is going on, but you don’t have to worry about the performance tonight.”

Fleming received testimonials from actors and friends Christine Baranski and Sigourney Weaver. A quartet of opera singers performed one of its signature arias: “Song to the Moon” from Antonin Dvořák’s opera Rusalka.

Latifah, 53, has been a star since the age of 19 when her debut album and single “Ladies First” made her the first female rap star. She has gone on to have a diverse career that has included seven studio albums, starring roles in numerous television shows and films, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the musical. chicago.

Latifah, whose real name is Dana Owens, was honored with performances by prominent female rappers of her generation, including Yo-Yo, MC Lyte and Money Love. Missy Elliott spoke about the cultural significance of her stage name: Latifa is Arabic for “gentle” or “gentle” while the title Queen conveyed respect, dignity and determination to play a leadership role in culture.

“She was like, ‘You’re going to respect me.’ I’m not just going to put the bar on. ‘I’m the bar,'” Elliott said.

Gibb, 76, achieved international fame as part of one of the most successful bands in the history of modern music, the Bee Gees. Along with his late brothers Robin and Maurice, the trio released an almost unparalleled string of hits that defined a generation of music.

“I’m proud of what my brothers and I have accomplished,” Gibb said on the red carpet. “When we were good, when we were in front, it was really special.”

His tribute featured performances from country music stars Little Big Town, singer Michael Bublé, Broadway star Ben Platt, and a greatest hits medley at the conclusion of the show by Academy Award-winning singer and actress Ariana DeBose.

The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors will air December 27 on CBS.