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Kennedy Center Honors De Niro, Boss

Brubeck, Bumbry, Mel Brooks round out list of those lauded at gala

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2009 6:27 AM CST

(Newser) – Last night’s Kennedy Center Honors brought together such unlikelies as Jack Black and Aretha Franklin to fete award winners Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen in a three-hour variety show. Highlights of the night, attended by the president, vice president, and speaker of the house, from the Washington Post:

  • Jon Stewart summed up Springsteen in his introduction: “I believe that Bob Dylan and James Brown had a baby,” before Ben Harper, Melissa Etheridge, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, John Mellencamp, and Sting—who got the crowd to its feet—all took turns belting out the Boss’s greatest hits.

  • Meryl Streep praised De Niro’s loyalty and friendship as much as his talent, while Martin Scorsese lauded his ability to see humanity in characters “who at first glance seemed inhuman.” Ben Stiller joked that, since he himself has won “two Teen Choice Awards,” that “the Kennedy Center Honor evens things out.”
  • Aretha Franklin referred to Bumbry, who went from a modest background in the Midwest to a career as one of the world’s great opera singers, as “Amazing Grace.”
  • Herbie Hancock acknowledged that “Dave Brubeck is the reason I don’t have a day job,” before covering a few of his jazz hits, joined by Brubeck’s four sons.
  • Brooks’ sequence resembled one of his films, from Martin Short riding a full-size plastic palomino and singing the Blazing Saddles theme to Jack Black playing the part of Robin Hood, complete with singing, from Men in Tights.
CBS will broadcast highlights on Dec. 29.

Harry Connick, Jr. walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Harry Connick, Jr. walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actress Jane Krakowski walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Actress Jane Krakowski walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Singer Jennifer Nettles walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Singer Jennifer Nettles walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actress Carol Burnett walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Actress Carol Burnett walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actor Ben Stiller walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Actor Ben Stiller walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actress Lynda Carter walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Actress Lynda Carter walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actor Matthew Broderick walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Actor Matthew Broderick walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Matthew Morrison walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.
Matthew Morrison walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Tony Award winner Roger Bart walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Tony Award winner Roger Bart walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Former Kennedy Center honoree Aretha Franklin walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Former Kennedy Center honoree Aretha Franklin walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Comedian Jon Stewart arrives with his wife, Tracy Stewart at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Washington.
Comedian Jon Stewart arrives with his wife, Tracy Stewart at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Carl Reiner, right, and Annie Reiner walk the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Carl Reiner, right, and Annie Reiner walk the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi walk the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi walk the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Actor Donald Sutherland walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Actor Donald Sutherland walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Singer Melissa Etheridge talks to the media on the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Singer Melissa Etheridge talks to the media on the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Kennedy Center honoree Mel Brooks talks with the media on the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Kennedy Center honoree Mel Brooks talks with the media on the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Director Martin Scorsese walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Director Martin Scorsese walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Rahm Emanuel talks with Nancy Pelosi before the event with President Barack Obama honoring the 2009 Kennedy Center honorees in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Rahm Emanuel talks with Nancy Pelosi before the event with President Barack Obama honoring the 2009 Kennedy Center honorees in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Actor Harvey Keitel walks the red carpet with his wife Daphna Kastner at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Actor Harvey Keitel walks the red carpet with his wife Daphna Kastner at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Barbara Walters looks for her seat in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Barbara Walters looks for her seat in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
CBS News anchor Katie Couric walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during arrivals for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
CBS News anchor Katie Couric walks the red carpet at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during arrivals for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Jack Black looks for his seat as he arrives at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Jack Black looks for his seat as he arrives at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Mikhail Baryshnikov takes his seat at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Mikhail Baryshnikov takes his seat at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sting, left, and his wife Trudie Stylier look for their seats at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Sting, left, and his wife Trudie Stylier look for their seats at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
From left, William Kennedy Smith, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, and Victoria Reggie Kennedy walk the red carpet at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
From left, William Kennedy Smith, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, and Victoria Reggie Kennedy walk the red carpet at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Patti Scialfa, wife of Bruce Springsteen, takes her seat at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Patti Scialfa, wife of Bruce Springsteen, takes her seat at the event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees.
President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honorees Bruce Springsteen, right, and Robert De Niro share a smile in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. T
Kennedy Center honorees Bruce Springsteen, right, and Robert De Niro share a smile in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. T   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honoree Dave Brubeck talks with the media at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Kennedy Center honoree Dave Brubeck talks with the media at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Kennedy Center honorees Dave Brubeck, left, Robert De Niro, Grace Bumbry, Mel Brooks, and Bruce Springsteen stand at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Kennedy Center honorees Dave Brubeck, left, Robert De Niro, Grace Bumbry, Mel Brooks, and Bruce Springsteen stand at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Barack Obama speaks as Kennedy Center honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen sit in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks as Kennedy Center honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen sit in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honoree Bruce Springsteen enters the East Room of the White House in Washington Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 for an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees.
Kennedy Center honoree Bruce Springsteen enters the East Room of the White House in Washington Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 for an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Bruce Springsteen poses with former Kennedy Center honoree Aretha Franklin as they walk the red carpet at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Bruce Springsteen poses with former Kennedy Center honoree Aretha Franklin as they walk the red carpet at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Kennedy Center honoree musician Dave Brubeck arrives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Kennedy Center honoree musician Dave Brubeck arrives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Bruce Springsteen, from left, first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, vice president Joe Biden, his daughter Ashley Biden, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applaud, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Bruce Springsteen, from left, first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, vice president Joe Biden, his daughter Ashley Biden, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applaud, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honoree opera singer Grace Bumbry stands and sings the National Anthem at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Kennedy Center honoree opera singer Grace Bumbry stands and sings the National Anthem at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honoree writer/director Mel Brooks arrives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Kennedy Center honoree writer/director Mel Brooks arrives at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa stand for the National Anthem at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa stand for the National Anthem at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honoree actor Robert De Niro arrives with Grace Hightower at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.
Kennedy Center honoree actor Robert De Niro arrives with Grace Hightower at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors on, Dec. 6, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
President Barack Obama congratulates Kennedy Center honoree Mel Brooks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
President Barack Obama congratulates Kennedy Center honoree Mel Brooks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Kennedy Center honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen are seen in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, with President Obama.
Kennedy Center honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen are seen in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, with President Obama.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Robert De Niro, Grace Bumbry, Dave Brubeck, Bruce Springsteen, and Mel Brooks pose with Hillary Rodham Clinton following the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Washington.
Robert De Niro, Grace Bumbry, Dave Brubeck, Bruce Springsteen, and Mel Brooks pose with Hillary Rodham Clinton following the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 in Washington.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
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entertainment • Robert De Niro • celebrity • Bruce Springsteen • Kennedy Center • Kennedy Center Honors • Mel Brooks • Dave Brubeck • Grace Bumbry

 
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