The Kennedy Center Honors are prestigious awards bestowed upon individuals and occasionally groups for their significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts. Held annually since 1978, the awards culminate in a December gala at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., where five honorees are celebrated for their lifetime achievements.
1977: Conception of the Kennedy Center Honors
The idea for the Kennedy Center Honors was conceived in 1977, inspired by an American Film Institute event held at the Kennedy Center.
1978: George Stevens Jr. Produces First Kennedy Center Honors
George Stevens Jr. co-created and produced the inaugural Kennedy Center Honors gala in 1978.
1978: First Kennedy Center Honors
The first annual Kennedy Center Honors took place in 1978, marking the beginning of a tradition of honoring lifetime achievements in the performing arts.
1978: Leonard Bernstein Hosts First Kennedy Center Honors
The renowned conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein served as the first host of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978.
1979: Eric Sevareid Hosts Second Kennedy Center Honors
Eric Sevareid hosted the second Kennedy Center Honors in 1979, with Gene Kelly concluding the event.
1979: President Carter Misses Honors Due to Iran Hostage Crisis
President Jimmy Carter was unable to attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 1979 due to the ongoing Iran hostage crisis, with First Lady Rosalynn Carter attending in his place.
1980: Beverly Sills Hosts Kennedy Center Honors
Beverly Sills, a celebrated opera singer, took on the hosting role for the 1980 Kennedy Center Honors.
1981: Walter Cronkite Begins Tenure as Host
Walter Cronkite began his long tenure as host of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1981, a role he would continue for over two decades.
1985: First Duo Receives Kennedy Center Honor
The year 1985 marked the first instance of a duo, rather than an individual, receiving the Kennedy Center Honor, expanding the scope of recognition to collaborative artistic efforts.
1987: Kennedy Center Considers Irving Berlin
The Kennedy Center considered honoring Irving Berlin for the 1987 awards; however, he desired to be honored only after his 100th birthday.
May 1988: Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday
Composer Irving Berlin celebrated his 100th birthday in May 1988.
1989: Irving Berlin Passes Away
Composer Irving Berlin died in 1989.
1989: President Bush Absent Due to Brussels Trip
President George H.W. Bush was unable to attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989 due to a trip to Brussels; First Lady Barbara Bush attended on his behalf.
1990: Katharine Hepburn Accepts Kennedy Center Honor
Actress Katharine Hepburn, after initially declining, accepted the Kennedy Center Honor in 1990.
1994: President Clinton Misses Event Due to Budapest Trip
President Bill Clinton's absence from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1994, due to a trip to Budapest, led to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton attending as his representative.
1998: Bill Cosby Receives Kennedy Center Honor
Stand-up comedian and actor Bill Cosby was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 1998.
2002: Walter Cronkite's Final Year as Host
2002 marked the end of Walter Cronkite's run as the host of the Kennedy Center Honors.
2002: Paul McCartney Selected for Honor but Unable to Attend
Paul McCartney was chosen for a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002 but couldn't attend due to a prior family commitment.
2003: Caroline Kennedy Becomes Host
Caroline Kennedy assumed the role of host for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003.
2003: McCartney Not Awarded in 2003
Despite initially stating that Paul McCartney's award would be postponed to the following year, the Kennedy Center did not bestow the honor on him in 2003.
2009: Mel Brooks Honored at Kennedy Center
In 2009, Mel Brooks was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors. This was the first year Barack Obama was president. Brooks had previously refused the honor during George W. Bush's presidency due to his opposition to the Iraq War.
2010: McCartney Receives Kennedy Center Honor
Paul McCartney was eventually honored with the Kennedy Center Honor in 2010.
2012: Caroline Kennedy Concludes Time as Host
Caroline Kennedy's time as host of the Kennedy Center Honors came to an end in 2012.
2013: Glenn Close Hosts Kennedy Center Honors
Actress Glenn Close served as the host of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013.
2014: George Stevens Jr. Ends Tenure as Kennedy Center Honors Producer
George Stevens Jr. concluded his long-standing role as producer of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2014, after overseeing the event since its inception.
2014: Stephen Colbert Begins Hosting Stint
Stephen Colbert's tenure as host of the Kennedy Center Honors began in 2014.
November 2015: The Eagles Postpone Kennedy Center Honors Appearance
In November 2015, the Eagles postponed their Kennedy Center Honors appearance because Glenn Frey required surgery and a long recovery period. Miranda Lambert paid tribute to the band in their absence.
2015: New Executive Producers Take Over
Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment were appointed as the new Executive Producers for the 38th annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, succeeding George Stevens Jr.
2015: President Obama Attends Honors After National Address
In 2015, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrived at the Kennedy Center Honors gala later than usual, following a live national address from the White House.
January 18, 2016: Glenn Frey of the Eagles Passes Away
On January 18, 2016, Glenn Frey, a member of the band the Eagles, passed away. This occurred after the band postponed their Kennedy Center Honors appearance in November 2015 due to Frey's health issues.
2016: Stephen Colbert's Final Year as Host
2016 marked the end of Stephen Colbert's time as the host of the Kennedy Center Honors.
2016: Last Presidential Attendance Before Biden
The 2016 Kennedy Center Honors marked the last time a sitting president and first lady attended the event, prior to Joe and Jill Biden's attendance in 2021.
December 3, 2017: Trump Skips Kennedy Center Honors
The 2017 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony was held on December 3, 2017, without the presence of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, marking their first time not attending the event.
2017: Presidential Absence at Kennedy Center Honors Becomes More Frequent
By 2017, it had become more common for the sitting US president to be absent from the Kennedy Center Honors gala performance, with several instances of non-attendance throughout the event's history.
2017: Norman Lear Boycotts White House Ceremony at Kennedy Center Honors
In 2017, Norman Lear accepted the Kennedy Center Honors but boycotted the White House ceremony due to his opposition to President Donald Trump's policies on the arts. Trump and Melania Trump became the first presidential couple to skip the event, claiming they wanted to avoid political distractions.
2017: Caroline Kennedy Introduces Honorees
The 2017 Kennedy Center Honors did not have a formal host, but Caroline Kennedy delivered the introduction, presenting the honorees.
2018: Bill Cosby's Honor Rescinded
Bill Cosby's Kennedy Center Honor, awarded in 1998, was revoked in 2018 following his conviction in a sexual assault case.
2018: Gloria Estefan Hosts Kennedy Center Honors
Gloria Estefan served as the host of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018.
2018: Trump Again Skips Kennedy Center Honors
President Donald Trump and Melania Trump continued their decision not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018, for the second consecutive year.
2018: "Trailblazing Creators" Award Introduced
The Kennedy Center Honors introduced a new award category in 2018, recognizing "trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category."
2019: LL Cool J Hosts Kennedy Center Honors
Rapper and actor LL Cool J took on the role of host for the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.
2019: Trump Misses Honors for Third Straight Year
For the third year in a row, Donald and Melania Trump chose not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, extending their absence from the annual event.
2019: Sesame Street Honored
In a historic first, the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors recognized a television program, Sesame Street, for its enduring cultural impact.
2020: Pandemic Impacts Biden's First Year at Honors
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the scheduling and format of the 2020 Kennedy Center Honors, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's involvement was limited to a White House reception for the honorees.
2020: Postponement of Kennedy Center Honors Due to Pandemic
The 2020 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony faced postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the unprecedented challenges faced by live events during that period.
May 2021: Biden Welcomes Honorees at White House
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the 2020 Kennedy Center Honorees at the White House in May 2021, a change made due to the pandemic-related rescheduling of the event.
May 22, 2021: Delayed 2020 Kennedy Center Honors Concludes
The 2020 Kennedy Center Honors, postponed and restructured due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concluded on May 22, 2021, after being filmed over several days.
June 6, 2021: Broadcast of the 2020 Kennedy Center Honors
The edited television broadcast of the 2020 Kennedy Center Honors, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, aired on June 6, 2021.
December 5, 2021: Biden Attends Kennedy Center Honors
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attended the Kennedy Center Honors gala performance on December 5, 2021, signifying the return of a sitting president and first lady to the event after a five-year absence.
2021: Gloria Estefan and David Letterman Host
Gloria Estefan hosted the Kennedy Center Honors in mid-2021, while David Letterman hosted the event later that year.
2022: 248 Kennedy Center Honors Awarded
As of 2022, a total of 248 Kennedy Center Honors had been awarded, recognizing individuals and groups for their significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
2022: Former Honorees Introduce at Ceremony
The 2022 Kennedy Center Honors did not have a designated host; instead, several past recipients of the award were invited to introduce the honorees.
2023: Gloria Estefan Returns as Host
Gloria Estefan returned to host the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023.