{"id":384889,"date":"2021-12-23T11:15:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T08:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/kennedy-center-honors-back-once-more-biden-attends\/"},"modified":"2021-12-23T11:15:43","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T08:15:43","slug":"kennedy-center-honors-back-once-more-biden-attends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/kennedy-center-honors-back-once-more-biden-attends\/","title":{"rendered":"#Kennedy Center Honors back once more, Biden attends"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#Kennedy Center Honors back once more, Biden attends<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>WASHINGTON \u2014 The\u00a0Kennedy Center Honors\u00a0returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala Sunday night and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kennedy-center.org\/whats-on\/honors\/\">The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence<\/a>\u00a0were presented to Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s event at the Kennedy Center\u2019s main opera house represented a return to political normalcy, with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attending.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump skipped the show the first three years he was in office after several of the artists honored in 2017, his first year in office, threatened to boycott a White House reception if he participated. Last year, the pandemic forced a delay and major changes to the program.<\/p>\n<p>The Bidens drew a sustained standing ovation when they entered the presidential box at the opera house. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed the national anthem and encouraged the audience to sing the final lines together.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340054667470.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at the 44th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.\" class=\"wp-image-20590249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340054667470.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340054667470.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340054667470.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340054667470.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at the 44th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The theater was packed to capacity and there were no <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> distancing restrictions, but vaccinations and recent negative COVID tests were required for all who attended.<\/p>\n<p>The tributes featured testimonials and performances that were kept secret from the honorees. Mitchell\u2019s tribute featured performances of her songs by Nora Jones, Brandi Carlile, Ellie Goulding and Brittany Howard. Diaz was honored with a performance from the opera \u201cCarmen\u201d and a song from his two daughters, Katya and Natascia.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"\/>\n<p>For Michaels, organizers put together three \u201cWeekend Update\u201d segments onstage with multiple generations of mock <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> anchors \u2014 Kevin Nealon, Seth Myers and Amy Poehler, and the current duo of Michel Che and Colin Jost. Che joked that Biden would be asleep before the end of the show and Poehler poked at the Toronto-born Michaels by proclaiming that Joni Mitchell had been declared \u201cthe best Canadian of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339106656282.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"2021 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, Justino Di\u0301az, Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Berry Gordy pose following the Medallion Ceremony.\" class=\"wp-image-20590246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339106656282.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339106656282.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339106656282.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339106656282.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>2021 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, Justino Di\u0301az, Lorne Michaels, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Berry Gordy pose following the Medallion Ceremony.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Midler received testimonials from close friends Goldie Hawn and Barbara Hershey, and a performance by Tony Award winner Billy Porter of her iconic song, \u201cThe Wind Beneath My Wings.\u201d Gordy\u2019s career was celebrated with performances of multiple Motown hits by Andra Day and Stevie Wonder and an extended tribute from close friend Smokey Robinson. The event ended with several of the night\u2019s performers joining for a performance of Wonder\u2019s hit \u201cHigher Ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"\/>\n<p>Prior to the Kennedy Center event, Biden revived another tradition that had gone dormant under Trump and held a White House reception for the honorees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe welcome everyone back,\u201d he told a crowd of about 150 seated in the East Room, decked out with Christmas trees and wreaths. Guests included Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Caroline Kennedy, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chita Rivera, Steve Martin and Herbie Hancock.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur nation is stronger, more dynamic and more vibrant because of you,\u201d Biden told the honorees.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340052396004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Motown Records creator Berry Gordy gestures as he arrives at the 44th Kennedy Center Honors.\" class=\"wp-image-20590248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340052396004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340052396004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340052396004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21340052396004.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Motown Records creator Berry Gordy gestures as he arrives at the 44th Kennedy Center Honors.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Biden praised the work of the artists, their \u201csixth sense\u201d that helps them create and move so many people, saying: \u201cI don\u2019t think you fully <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>reciate what you do for so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He spoke of Diaz\u2019s \u201csound of soul,\u201d Gordy\u2019s creation of \u201cone of the most iconic businesses\u201d in American history with Motown Records. With Michaels, he joked: \u201cFinally, it\u2019s my turn to say something about him,\u201d poking fun at Michaels\u2019 SNL show, which routinely mocks presidents, including the current commander in chief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou make me laugh at myself a lot,\u201d Biden said, then went on to say Michaels was auditioning actors right now to play him next on SNL. Biden asked Steve Martin to stand as an example of the type of talent Michaels has cultivated over the past decades.<\/p>\n<p>Martin paused and asked the president, \u201cDo you want me to play you?\u201d The crowd erupted in laughter.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n    <\/aside>\n<p>Biden then professed his admiration for both Mitchell and Midler, telling Midler that \u201cpeople will never forget how you make them feel. That\u2019s your gift, it\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And lastly: \u201cJoni. Your words and melodies touch the deepest parts of our soul,\u201d Biden said.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, the pandemic forced organizers to bump the annual December ceremony back to May 2021.\u00a0Performance tributes\u00a0to the artists were filmed over several nights and at multiple locations on campus.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s main COVID-related modification was shifting the annual Saturday ceremony, where honorees receive their medallions on rainbow-colored ribbons, to the Library of Congress instead of the State Department.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339826684545.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Bette Midler, joined by Lorne Michaels, left and Berry Gordy, right, stands for applause during the Kennedy Center Honorees Reception hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House.\" class=\"wp-image-20590255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339826684545.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339826684545.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339826684545.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/AP21339826684545.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Bette Midler, joined by Lorne Michaels, left and Berry Gordy, right, stands for applause during the Kennedy Center Honorees Reception hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s ceremony, which will be broadcast Dec. 22 by CBS, is the centerpiece of the Kennedy Center\u2019s 50th anniversary of cultural programming. The center opened in 1971.\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/12\/23\/kennedy-center-honors-back-once-more-biden-attends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Kennedy Center Honors back once more, Biden attends&#8221; WASHINGTON \u2014 The\u00a0Kennedy Center Honors\u00a0returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala Sunday night and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016. The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence\u00a0were presented to Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d mastermind Lorne Michaels,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":384890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/newspress-collage-20590223-1640245806163.png?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[122429,17798,991,77799,89401,89402,71753,106648],"class_list":["post-384889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-12-23-21","tag-bette-midler","tag-joe-biden","tag-joni-mitchell","tag-kennedy-center","tag-kennedy-center-honors","tag-lorne-michaels","tag-motown"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=384889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/384890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=384889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=384889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=384889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}