Mavis Staples, James Taylor, the Eagles, Martha Argerich, and Al Pacino were named as Kennedy Center honorees today.
Videos by American Songwriter
“The Kennedy Center Honors celebrates the spectacular talents of artists whose brilliance has left a lasting impact on our society. These honorees represent what is possible when creativity is not just cultivated, but unleashed,” Kennedy Center chairman David M. Rubinstein said in a statement.
The 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors airs Tuesday, Dec. 27. Honorees will be seated beside President Obama and The First Lady for an evening which will include performances and tributes to the artists’ lives.
Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter added: “These honorees have each played a unique role in shaping America’s artistic landscape with their work, expressing their creativity in ways that pushed the boundaries of what art can do, and what it can mean. Their artistic triumphs have motivated us, moved us, and will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”
See a moment from each of these artists’ careers below.
