The Kennedy Center announced Tuesday that Oprah Winfrey, the doyenne of daytime television, will be among the five artists receiving this year’s Kennedy Center Honors.
The others are musician-songwriters Sir Paul McCartney and Merle Haggard, dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones and composer-lyricist Jerry Herman of “Hello, Dolly!” fame.
The selection of Winfrey may be startling, but it’s not without precedent. The choice harks back to 1993 when late-night television host Johnny Carson was selected, breaking the long line of honorees who were strictly traditional performing artists. Winfrey, taking a break from taping for her 25th season and reviewing the nearly 5,000 hours of footage, let out with a buoyant “Wow-zee!”
She explained, “This feels like an official American citizenship in a very exclusive club of artists and contributors to the nation in a very special way. It feels like an elevated kind of award and there aren’t many in this category. They look at your work, your life work, who you are as a human being and the spirit of who you are as a human being. Not many honors look at that depth.”
David M. Rubenstein, the center’s chairman, talked about the “cultural vibrancy” of all five honorees.
“For more than 25 years, Oprah Winfrey has established one of the most innovative careers in the entertainment world, with distinctive accomplishments in television and film,” he said.
“The honesty of Merle Haggard’s music and poetic lyrics has helped to shape the world of country music for nearly five decades. Jerry Herman’s musicals rank him in the pantheon of Broadway’s Golden Age,” said Rubenstein, who will be hosting his first gala as chairman. “The inventive style and imaginative artistry of Bill T. Jones has had an invaluable impact on the varied landscapes of dance and theater. Sir Paul McCartney is one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time.”
Actually, this is the second time McCartney has been invited to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2002, he accepted but then abruptly withdrew, citing a family obligation. “We first asked if he had any relatives getting married the first week of December,” joked George Stevens Jr., the longtime producer of the event. “He is very pleased and we are pleased to have him in the group.” For his own part, McCartney sent along a message: “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.”
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Tags: Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney
Sir Paul Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But Oprah really? Come up people let’s all get over her together!