Obama to salute Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, 3 others receiving Kennedy Center Honors in DC

12/8/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Kennedy-Center-Honors-Kerry

    Secretary of State John Kerry, with the 2013 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, seated Shirley MacLain, and Martina Arroyo, along with Teresa Heinz Kerry. Standing are Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock.

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • Secretary of State John Kerry, with the 2013 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, seated Shirley MacLain, and Martina Arroyo, along with Teresa Heinz Kerry. Standing are Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock.
    Secretary of State John Kerry, with the 2013 Kennedy Center honorees, from left, seated Shirley MacLain, and Martina Arroyo, along with Teresa Heinz Kerry. Standing are Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock.

    WASHINGTON — Five artists who have been playing music, dancing or singing since they were children are being honored with this year’s Kennedy Center Honors in Washington.

    Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock and opera star Martina Arroyo are being awarded the nation’s highest honors Sunday for influencing American culture through music, while Shirley MacLaine is being honored for her impact on stage and screen.

    President Barack Obama will salute the honorees, and top entertainers will offer tribute performances Sunday night. The show will be broadcast Dec. 29 on CBS.

    On Saturday night, Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the honorees for a black-tie dinner at the State Department. Kerry says the honorees have blazed trails, redefining the arts and American culture along the way.