Kennedy Center Salutes Freeman, Streisand

DC meets LA in annual cultural celebration

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 8, 2008 6:37 AM CST

(Newser) – Entertainment’s elite descended on Washington last night for the 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors, this year saluting Morgan Freeman, Twyla Tharp, George Jones, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, and Barbra Streisand, the Washington Post reports. They were honored by performances and speeches by a no-less star-studded roster. “It's like an intersection of New York money, Washington power, and Hollywood glamor,” said the Center’s president.

The evening's oddest moment came when Streisand, an unapologetic liberal who once called the president “an alien sent here to destroy the earth," received (and returned) a kiss on the cheek from said alien, CNN reports. “Art trumps politics tonight,” she said, though she added that had Barack Obama given her the award, it "would have been lovely," the New York Daily News says.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (2)]

From left, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Twyla Tharp, Morgan Freeman, Barbara Streisand, and George Jones after the State Department Dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors gala Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., right, and her husband Paul Pelosi, arrive for the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ffrom left to right, Twyla Tharp, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman and George Jones sing the national anthem at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, stand with 2008 Kennedy Center Honorees Morgan Freeman, left, and George Jones, second from left. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

George Jones, right, and his wife Nancy Jones arrive for the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Barbra Streisand arrives for the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Honoree Morgan Freeman, left, laughs with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after the State Department Dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors gala Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

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Barbara Streisand, actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey were all honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington Sunday. The AP's Faryl Ury has a wrap up. (Dec. 8) (AssociatedPress)

Barbara Streisand and President Bush share an awkward kiss at the Kennedy Center Honors. (dpolitico)

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Kennedy Center Salutes Freeman, Streisand