McCartney and Haggard to receive Kennedy Center awards
Written by admin on September 7, 2010 – 2:14 pm - |
Paul McCartney and Merle Haggard will be among this year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center award on December 5.
This will be McCartney’s second visit to the White House this year. He received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in June and performed in front of President Obama and the First Lady. |
The Kennedy Center awards, now in their 33rd year, recognise lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. This year’s other recipients are Oprah Winfrey, dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones and composer-lyricist Jerry Herman who wrote “Hello, Dolly!”
In a statement on each of the recipients, Kennedy Center chairman, David M. Rubenstein, called McCartney “one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time.” Rubenstein also stated how “The honesty of Merle Haggard’s music and poetic lyrics has helped to shape the world of country music for nearly five decades.”
Paul McCartney has welcomed the announcement, noting that:
“President Kennedy was such an icon for us in the Sixties and his presidency was so inspiring for so many people that it is a great pleasure for this kid from Liverpool to receive this honour.”
The 2010 Kennedy Center award recipients will be received at the White House by President Obama on Sunday, December 5. They will then attend the star studded Honors Gala which will be recorded and broadcast on CBS on Tuesday, December 28 at 9:00 pm (ET/PT).
Last year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center award were Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, Grace Bumbry and Dave Brubeck.
Tags: Kennedy Center award, Merle Haggard, Paul McCartney, The Beatles
Posted in Awards, General, The Beatles |
