Kennedy Center Honors fetes new inductees, including Queen Latifah, Billy Crystal and Dionne Warwick

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2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, comedian Billy Crystal, center, waves as he is applauded by fellow honorees Dionne Warwick and Queen Latifah, at the 46th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON ā€“ The newest group of Kennedy Center honorees, including comedian Billy Crystal and rapper and actor Queen Latifah, were feted at a star-studded event commemorating their lifetime achievement in arts and entertainment.

Opera singer RenƩe Fleming, music star Barry Gibb and prolific hitmaker Dionne Warwick were also honored at the Sunday night black-tie gala. Each received personalized tributes including appearances and performances that are typically kept secret from the honorees themselves.

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President Joe Biden welcomed the honorees to the White House before the event, saying the performing arts ā€œreflect who we are as Americans and as human beings.ā€

The honorees ā€œhave helped shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other and how we see our world,ā€ said Biden, who then introduced this year's class with a set of glowing superlatives about their work.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden then headed to the Kennedy Center to attend the festivities. The ceremony began with 2017 Kennedy Center honoree Gloria Estefan leading a troupe of dancers down the aisle while performing her megahit ā€œGet On Your Feet.ā€

In announcing the recipients earlier this year, the Kennedy Center's president, Deborah F. Rutter, called them ā€œan extraordinary mix of individuals who have redefined their art forms.ā€

Crystal, 75, came to national prominence in the 1970s playing Jodie Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on American network television, on the sitcom ā€œSoap.ā€ He went on to a brief but memorable one-year stint on ā€œSaturday Night Liveā€ before starring in a string of movies, including hits such as ā€œWhen Harry Met Sally... ,ā€ ā€œThe Princess Brideā€ and ā€œCity Slickers.ā€

On the red carpet before the show, movie director Rob Reiner ā€” who cast Crystal in multiple iconic roles ā€” poked fun at the honoree. ā€œI hope this doesnā€™t give him a big head, because honestly his headā€™s already big,ā€ Reiner said.

Reiner later narrated a large portion of Crystal's tribute, speaking from a stage made up as a replica of the diner from the famous scene in ā€œWhen Harry Met Sally ... .ā€ Further testimonials came from his ā€œWhen Harryā€ costar 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 Centerā€™s Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy in 2007, joins an elite group of comedians cited for both: David Letterman, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett and Neil Simon. Bill Cosby received both honors, but they were rescinded in 2018 following his sexual assault conviction, which later was overturned.

Warwick, 82, shot to stardom in the 1960s as the muse for the superstar songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Her discography includes a multidecade string of hits, both with and without Bacharach, that includes ā€œI Say a Little Prayer,ā€ ā€œIā€™ll Never Love This Way Againā€ and ā€œThatā€™s What Friends Are For.ā€

Warwick's tribute kicked off the show with a testimonial by 2021 honoree Debbie Allen, a performance by Cynthia Erivo, and Saturday Night Live cast member Ego Nwodim recounting how scary it was to perform her famous impression of Warwick in front of the diva herself. 2022 Kennedy Center honoree Gladys Knight performed Warwick's signature hit, ā€œI Say a Little Prayer.ā€

Fleming, 64, is one of the leading sopranos of her era, with a string of accolades that includes a National Medal of Arts bestowed by President Barack Obama, a Cross of the Order of Merit from the German government and honorary membership in Englandā€™s Royal Academy of Music.

Although she had participated in five other tribute performances for previous honorees, Fleming said being the focus of attention was a ā€œwildā€ experience.

ā€œIt's a different kind of whirlwind,ā€ she said on the red carpet. ā€œLots going on, but I don't have to worry about performing tonight.ā€

Fleming received testimonials from actors and friends Christine Baranski and Sigourney Weaver. A quartet of opera singers performed one of her signature tunes: ā€œSong to the Moonā€ from AntonĆ­n DvoÅ™Ć”kā€™s opera ā€œRusalka.ā€

Latifah, 53, has been a star since age 19 when her debut album and hit single ā€œLadies Firstā€ made her the first female crossover rap star. She has gone on to a diverse career that has included seven studio albums, starring roles in multiple television shows and movies and an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role in the movie musical ā€œChicago.ā€

Latifah, whose real name is Dana Owens, was honored with performances from prominent female rappers of her generation, including Yo-Yo, MC Lyte and Monie Love. Missy Elliott spoke on the cultural importance of her stage name: Latifah is Arabic meaning ā€œgentleā€ or ā€œkindā€ while the queen moniker conveyed respect, dignity and a determination to play a leadership role in the culture.

ā€œShe was saying, ā€˜You WILL respect me. I won't just set the bar. I AM the bar,ā€™ ā€ Elliott said.

Gibb, 76, achieved global 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 launched a nearly unmatched string of hits that defined a generation of music.

ā€œIā€™m proud of what my brothers and myself accomplished,ā€ Gibb said on the red carpet. ā€œWhen we were good, and when we were on, it was really special.ā€

His tribute featured performances from country stars Little Big Town, singer Michael BublƩ, Broadway star Ben Platt and a show-closing greatest hits medley by Academy Award-winning singer and actor Ariana DeBose.

The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be broadcast on Dec. 27 on CBS.

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AP video producer John Carucci contributed to this report.


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