Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Bonnie Raitt, Francis Ford Coppola, More Are 2024 Kennedy Center Honorees December 8
Queen Latifah hosts the gala evening, celebrating the 47th class of honorees, that will subsequently be broadcast on CBS.
The Apollo theater, Bonnie Raitt, and Francis Ford Coppola
The 47th class of Kennedy Center Honorees are saluted by
performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world December 8 in a gala evening at the famed Washington, D.C., venue.
The five honorees receiving the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for
lifetime artistic achievements are director and filmmaker
Francis Ford Coppola; American rock band the Grateful Dead (Mickey Hart,
Bill Kreutzmann, Bobby Weir, and the late Phil Lesh); blues rock singer-songwriter
and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo
Sandoval; and Harlem’s The Apollo, which is celebrating its 90th
anniversary and will receive a special Honors as an iconic American
institution.
The celebration, hosted by 2023 Honoree Queen Latifah, will be filmed for subsequent TV broadcast. The 47th annual Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ December 22 at 8:30 PM ET.
READ: 5 Historically Black Theatres You Should Know
“The Kennedy Center
Honors recognizes artists who have made an extraordinary impact on the
cultural life of our nation and continue to have an immeasurable
influence on new generations,” stated Kennedy Center Chairman David M.
Rubenstein in an earlier statement. “A brilliant and masterful storyteller with
an unrelenting innovative spirit, Francis Ford Coppola’s films have
become embedded in the very idea of American culture; a social and
cultural phenomenon since 1965, the Grateful Dead’s music has never
stopped being a true American original, while inspiring a fan culture
like no other; Bonnie Raitt has
made us love her again and again with her inimitable voice, slide
guitar, and endless musical range encompassing blues, R&B, country
rock, and folk; ‘an ambassador of both music and humanity,’ Arturo
Sandoval
transcended literal borders coming from Cuba 30-plus years ago and
today continues to bridge cultures with his intoxicating blend of Afro
Cuban rhythms and modern jazz; and on its 90th anniversary, The Apollo,
one of the most consequential, influential institutions in history, has
elevated the voices of Black entertainment in New York City,
nationally, and around the world, and launched the careers of legions of
artists.”
“Our
honorees this year have each played an invaluable, pioneering role in
developing American culture—not with one act of art but with their
decades-long devotion to pushing creative boundaries,” added Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “In
December, we are thrilled to pay special tribute to New York City’s
renowned Apollo Theater on its 90th anniversary. Throughout its history,
The Apollo has guided us and the world forward by discovering and
nurturing raw talent, molding a unique cultural identity that still
defines American culture today. Across Honors weekend, artists with
special connections to The Apollo will serve as ambassadors of the
institution’s legacy.”
The Kennedy Center
Honors pay tribute to individuals whose unique
contributions have had an impact on the rich tapestry of
American life and culture through the performing arts, whether in music, dance, theatre, opera, motion pictures, or television.
Last year’s honorees included Tony-nominated actor and
comedian Billy Crystal (Mr. Saturday Night); acclaimed soprano and Tony-nominated actor Renée Fleming (Carousel); British singer-songwriter, producer, and member of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb (Saturday Night Fever); rapper, singer, and actor Queen Latifah; and Grammy-winning singer Dionne Warwick.
Done+Dusted returns to produce the
event for a third year, in association with ROK Productions.
The Honors are executive produced by David Jammy, Elizabeth Kelly,
Jack Sussman. The show is directed by Alex
Rudzinski.