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The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday announced the selection of five laureates to receive the 44th Kennedy Center Honors for their lifetime artistic achievement.
This year’s winners include Justino Díaz, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler and Joni Mitchell.
The winners will be celebrated on December 5 on CBS. The program will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount +.
“This year’s winners represent the unifying power of the arts and surely remind us of what unites us as human beings,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “These artists are genius, inspiration and entertainment at the same time.”
Rutter continued, “After the challenges and heartbreak of the past few months, and as we celebrate Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary, I dare to add that we are ready to throw the ‘party to end all the holidays’ in DC. on December 5th, celebrating these amazing people and welcoming the public back to our campus.
Kennedy Center President David M. Rubenstein made the announcement on Wednesday, identifying the award winners’ accolades that led to the momentous occasion.
Justino diaz
The Puerto Rican bass-baritone, 81, is best known for his “distinguished and deeply resonant voice and historic opera career,” said Rubenstein. He also noted that Díaz has performed on the stages of the world’s greatest opera houses and remains as “one of the greatest bass baritones of our time”.
Gordy Bay
“Visionary music producer and songwriter” and founder of Motown, Gordy, 91, is known to have created and developed the careers of former Kennedy Center laureates including Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson. He has also contributed to the success of countless other Motown musicians like the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, the Jackson 5 and Marvin Gaye.
Lorne michaels
As the creator and executive producer of “Saturday Night Live,” Michaels, 76, created the most enduring “must-see television,” Rubenstein noted, making it the most Emmy-nominated show in the world. ‘story. Michaels is also known for producing a variety of small screen comedic hits like “30 Rock” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”), films like “Wayne’s World” and “Baby Mama” as well as the scene with “Wicked girls. “
Bette means
“America’s Divine Miss M,” as Rubenstein called her, Midler, 75, has spent 60 years on screen and on stage. The “artistic tour de force” has received multiple Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards and nine American Comedy Awards, while “entertaining millions of people with his wonderful voice and trademark comedic spirit,” he added.
Joni mitchell
Canadian-born singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell will celebrate the honor alongside the 50th anniversary of her flagship album, “Blue”. Mitchell, 77, is known for her ability to blend “raw, deeply personal lyrics with her surprisingly ethereal voice,” Rubenstein said. Mitchell released and recorded 19 albums, making the singer-songwriter one of the most influential cultural figures in popular music of the 20th century.
The 44th ceremony will be the second to be broadcast this year, as the 2020 ceremony has been delayed by the pandemic. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will be in attendance after former President Trump did not attend the ceremonies during his administration.
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