Scene in D.C.: Led Zeppelin, Letterman at Kennedy Center Honors
Robert De Niro opened last night’s Kennedy Center Honors by calling honoree Dustin Hoffman a “colossal pain.”
De Niro joked about his “Wag the Dog” co-star’s penchant for perfectionism while Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts offered more traditional praise.
“I heart Dustin Hoffman,” said Watts, playing off their 2004 collaboration, “I Heart Huckabees.”
Barack and Michelle Obama sat in the presidential box for the 35th annual event, which toasts artists who have made extraordinary contributions in various disciplines. The ceremony will be broadcast Dec. 26 on CBS.
The other honorees were David Letterman, Buddy Guy, Natalia Makarova and Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones.
Bonnie Raitt got the crowd to their feet with “Sweet Home Chicago” in her tribute to bluesman Guy. Actor Morgan Freeman and musician Tracy Chapman expressed their affection for the guitarist and singer.
Judith Jamison, a 1999 honoree, introduced a video about fellow dancer Natalia Makarova. A string of ballerinas from the American Ballet Theatre saluted the Russian prima donna by performing some of her more famous roles.
Tina Fey
Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and Jimmy Kimmel lauded Letterman. Referencing his habit of embarrassing the guests on his couch, Fey called Letterman “professor emeritus of the ‘Here’s Some More Rope Institute.”’
The program concluded with Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz and Kid Rock belting out Led Zeppelin hits in honor of the British band. ActorJack Black suggested holding a “Zepathon,” a nonstop playing of all the Led Zeppelin albums in a row. Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart performed the group’s classic “Stairway to Heaven.”
Before the program started, I asked various guests about their favorite honorees. Obama adviser David Axelrod, in a rakish red tie, said he was a fan of Guy, a fellow Chicagoan. Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Republican, said he loved Hoffman’s film “Rain Man” because the film is set in Cincinnati.
Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, said she enjoyed Letterman’s late-night laughs.
After the tributes, guests dined in the Grand Foyer where a giant bust of President John F. Kennedy looms.
Caroline Kennedy
His daughter, Caroline, wearing her mother’s diamond starburst pin at the waist of her gown, held court nearby welcoming guests.
The dinner consisted of free-range chicken with sweet- potato puree and spinach, served with William Hill Chardonnay 2011.
W. James McNerney, Jr., chief executive of the evening’s underwriter, the Boeing Co., was present, as was Kennedy Center Chairman and Carlyle Group Co-Founder David Rubenstein.
Others in attendance included film director Rob Marshall, actress Glenn Close, Senator Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, and Representative Darrell Issa, California Republican.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include Katya Kazakina on art and Jeremy Gerard on theater.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Kennedy Center Honors
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center. Photographer: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images via Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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2012 honoree David Letterman and Barbara Sandler Friedman, a fan and Kennedy Center patron.
2012 honoree David Letterman and Barbara Sandler Friedman, a fan and Kennedy Center patron. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, a 2012 honoree.
Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, a 2012 honoree. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Singer Bonnie Raitt and 2012 honoree blues musician Buddy Guy.
Singer Bonnie Raitt and 2012 honoree blues musician Buddy Guy. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Actor Alec Baldwin and 2012 honoree Dustin Hoffman.
Actor Alec Baldwin and 2012 honoree Dustin Hoffman. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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2012 honoree Natalia Makarova.
2012 honoree Natalia Makarova. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, a 2012 honoree, with musician Kid Rock.
John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, a 2012 honoree, with musician Kid Rock. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Joseph Shepard, Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, Annette Shelby, and Senator Richard Shelby, Alabama Republican.
Joseph Shepard, Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, Annette Shelby, and Senator Richard Shelby, Alabama Republican. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Republican, and his wife, Jane.
Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Republican, and his wife, Jane. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Obama senior adviser David Axelrod.
Obama senior adviser David Axelrod. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Actor Liev Schreiber and actress Naomi Watts.
Actor Liev Schreiber and actress Naomi Watts. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Musician Lenny Kravitz.
Musician Lenny Kravitz. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Actress Glenn Close.
Actress Glenn Close. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Edwin Schlossberg and Caroline Kennedy.
Edwin Schlossberg and Caroline Kennedy. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Kennedy Center Honors
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Sydney McNiff Johnson and Jay Johnson, the CEO of General Dynamics.
Sydney McNiff Johnson and Jay Johnson, the CEO of General Dynamics. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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