U2, Gladys Knight, George Clooney among 2022 Kennedy Center honorees
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Left to right, back row: U2 members Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., The Edge and Bono. Front row: Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, George Clooney and Tania León.Gail Schulman / CBS -
Kennedy Center honorees U2 (Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, The Edge and Bono), George Clooney, Tania León, Amy Grant and Gladys Knight.Gail Schulman / CBS -
President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the 45th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP -
Onstage at the Kennedy Center Honors Sunday (from left): Amanda Shires, Dianne Reeves, Natalie Hemby, Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Brandi Carlile, Jamala, Mickey Guyton, BeBe Winans, Michael W. Smith, Ariana DeBose and Maren Morris.Mary Kouw / CBS
The stars turned out in Washington, D.C. on Sunday night for the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors. Gladys Knight, Amy Grant, George Clooney, Tania León and U2 were celebrated for their contributions to American culture.
Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Eddie Vedder, Brandi Carlile and a host of others offered praise for the artists at the event. President Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Douglass Emhoff were among those attending the gala.
Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul, who was attacked at their home a month ago, received a standing ovation.
The honorees received medallions at a State Department dinner Saturday night, with Garth Brooks hosting and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken serving as honorary chair.
"Ultimately, these artists remind us of our common humanity, that no matter who we are or where we're from, we can and we are all moved by the arts," Blinken said.
On the red carpet, actor George Clooney — a big Gladys Knight fan — recalled to NPR a moment from the dinner where the honorees received their medallions. "Gladys got up and sang and, you know, just a cappella started to sing. ... The only thing that was terrible was that I had to follow. So there's 300 people in the room going, this is transcendent — and I'm like 'God, this is horrible! I have follow Gladys Knight!"
Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight grew up in Georgia and started singing gospel as a little girl. She and her brother Bubba, sister Brenda and two cousins formed the original Pips. The classic Gladys Knight & The Pips was her brother Bubba and two cousins.
Clooney might not have Gladys Knight's musical chops but there was plenty of love for him as an actor, activist and friend on Sunday. Don Cheadle praised his philanthropy. Julia Roberts called him a "renaissance man," and Matt Damon ribbed him.
"I know a lot of people think you have movie star looks, but let's be honest: It takes a village to style a star into being People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. I've been there. Those experts can transform anyone," Damon joked.
Honoree Tania León, a conductor and composer, was one of some 300,000 refugees who left Cuba on the so-called Freedom Flights in 1967. She co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem two years later. Dancers from the company and pianist Chloe Flower performed one of Tania León's compositions. In 2021, León won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her work on Stride, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic.
At the State Department dinner, León talked about calling up her ancestors when she creates.
"If I'm going to conduct a concert I say, 'Hey, you better come with me because this is difficult.' If I'm going to write a piece, I call on my ancestors and say, 'You better help me because the deadline is in two weeks," she said.
Six-time Grammy winner Amy Grant is the first Christian pop singer to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. CeCe and BeBe Winans, along with the Howard Gospel Choir, performed a medley of Grant's songs.
And singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile told NPR that one of the things she admires about Grant is how inclusive she is: "The way that she's come out in support of LGBTQIA people, specifically me, has — it can't be easy for her. You know, she has had to have taken a bit of heat from her evangelical fans and followers. And I have so much respect for her constantly pushing the boundaries of other people's capacity to love."
Many of the Kennedy Center honorees use their art and their platform to advocate for social justice. And that is very much the case with the Irish band U2, including members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. The band has won 22 Grammys and Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience award.
"Bono has often said that being famous is nonsense, celebrity is nonsense," said actor Sean Penn. "But it is currency. And the band has spent its currency to show the usefulness of art in the world."
The Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS, and streams on Paramount+, on Dec. 28.
The audio and web editions of this story were edited by Meghan Collins Sullivan. Ajani Daniel assisted with production.
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Transcript
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Last night's Kennedy Center Honors here in Washington celebrated artists who contributed to American culture. The performance honored Gladys Knight, Amy Grant, George Clooney, Tania Leon and U2. Here's NPR's Elizabeth Blair.
ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight grew up in Georgia and started singing gospel as a little girl. The Pips was a family affair. The classic Gladys Knight & the Pips were her older brother, Bubba, and two cousins.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE")
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: (Singing) I bet you're wondering how I knew - baby, baby, baby - about your plans to make me blue with some other girl you knew before. Between the two of us girls, you know I loved you more.
BLAIR: Two of Gladys Knight, two biggest fans are fellow honoree George Clooney and his wife, Amal. On Saturday night, the honorees attended a dinner at the State Department.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GEORGE CLOONEY: Gladys Knight got up and sang. And, you know...
AMAL CLOONEY: She is amazing.
G CLOONEY: ...We were just - she just a cappella started to sing. And you just look at it going, this is - I mean, you know - the only thing was - that was terrible was I had to follow her. So there's 300 people in the room going, this is transcendent. And I'm, like, going, this is horrible.
BLAIR: Clooney might not have Gladys Knight's musical chops, but he got plenty of praise. Don Cheadle talked about his philanthropy. Julia Roberts called him a Renaissance man. And Matt Damon ribbed him.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MATT DAMON: I know a lot of people think you have movie star looks, but let's be honest, it takes a village to style a star into being People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. I've been there. Those experts can transform anyone.
BLAIR: President Biden, the first lady, Vice President Harris and the second gentleman attended the gala. Honoree Tania Leon is a composer and conductor who also co-founded the Dance Theater of Harlem. Members of the company danced to one of her compositions, performed by pianist Chloe Flower.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
BLAIR: In 1967, Leon was one of some 300,000 refugees who left Cuba on the so-called Freedom Flights. At the State Department dinner, Leon talked about calling up her ancestors when she creates.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TANIA LEON: If I'm going to conduct a concert, I said, hey, you better come with me because this is difficult. If I'm going to write a piece, I call on my ancestors and said, you better help me because, I mean, the deadline is in two weeks.
(LAUGHTER)
BLAIR: Amy Grant is the first Christian pop singer to receive a Kennedy Center honor. CeCe and BeBe Winans, along with the Howard Gospel Choir, performed a medley of Grant's songs.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BEBE WINANS: (Singing) Just to sing a new song. Your heart learned to sing when he forgave his life to you. But life goes on and so much, the song...
CECE WINANS: (Singing) You got to sing again, the song born in your soul when you first gave your heart to him. Sing your praises.
BEBE AND CECE WINANS: (Singing) Once more sing your praise to the lord.
BLAIR: Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile said one of the things she admires about Grant is how inclusive she is.
BRANDI CARLILE: The way that she's come out in support of LGBTQIA people, specifically me, has - it can't have been easy for her, you know? She has had to have taken a bit of heat from her evangelical fans and followers. And I have so much respect for her constantly pushing the boundaries of other people's capacity to love.
BLAIR: Many of the honorees use their art to advocate for social justice, and that is very much the case with the Irish band U2, said actor Sean Penn.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SEAN PENN: Bono has often said that being famous is nonsense. Celebrity is nonsense. But it is currency. And the band has spent its currency to show the usefulness of art in the world.
BLAIR: Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performed U2's hit "One."
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
EDDIE VEDDER: (Singing) Have you come here for forgiveness. Have you come to raise the dead? Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?
BLAIR: The Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS and Streams on Paramount+ on December 28. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
VEDDER: (Singing) We're one, but we're not the same. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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