Kennedy Center Hails Mix of Artists

Stars from all corners of the entertainment world paid tribute Sunday to this year’s Kennedy Center honorees: actress Carol Burnett, violinist Itzhak Perlman, musician James Brown, singer Loretta Lynn and director Mike Nichols.

The five were saluted for their life’s work and contribution to American arts and culture at a series of events that concluded Sunday night with the 26th annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Younger R&B; stars covered some of Brown’s hits, with Anastacia performing “Sex Machine,” Joss Stone singing “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Brian McKnight tackling “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”

Country legend Lynn was toasted by Sissy Spacek, who played her in the film biography “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” “I loved being you, Loretta,” Spacek said. “I could’ve gone on being you for the rest of my life.”

Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Lyle Lovett and Patty Loveless performed a medley of Lynn’s hits.

President Bush and the first lady were among those in the audience Sunday. Earlier in the evening, they hosted a reception for the honorees at the White House.

Of Lynn, Perlman and Brown, Bush joked: “They’re not known to have performed together. But the sight of all three together on the same stage is a picture to remember.”

On Saturday, the honorees attended a black-tie dinner at the State Department that featured some of Hollywood’s best-known faces and Washington’s highest-profile politicians.

At the dinner, each honoree received the official Kennedy Center decoration: three brass medals hanging from ribbons representing the seven arts, which they wore at Sunday’s performance gala.

“This is very special,” said Perlman, 58, a violin virtuoso whose fluency in baroque, classical and modern music has won him international acclaim. “The luminaries that have been chosen in the past -- I’m flattered to be listed among them.”

In one of the evening’s more memorable moments, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell greeted rap artist LL Cool J by clasping the rapper’s fist and bumping shoulders.

The honorees said they were surprised to find out they had been selected as this year’s recipients.

“I was feeding my cat when I got the FedEx,” said Burnett, 70, whose Emmy-award-winning television program, “The Carol Burnett Show,” ran for 11 years on CBS. “That’s the best kind of surprise, when it’s a wonderful surprise and you don’t expect it.”

After dinner, Powell paid tribute to the honorees’ commitment to the arts and to the country.

“I want to thank [the honorees] for their incomparable contributions to the performing arts, to America and to the world,” he said. “If we here at the State Department practice the art of diplomacy, you practice the diplomacy of art.”

Powell also was playful as he individually toasted each honoree. “All of us admire your wit, your sophistication, your insight and, of course, your wife,” Powell said to Nichols, 72, who is married to journalist Diane Sawyer.

Nichols’ credits include directing “Barefoot in the Park” and “The Odd Couple” on Broadway and the movies “The Graduate” and “Carnal Knowledge.” With an Oscar, an Emmy, seven Tonys and a Grammy, Nichols is one of only a few artists who have won every major entertainment award.

Powell told Brown, 75, that he could use him on his diplomatic missions to “liven things up.”

“I hereby appoint you Secretary of Soul and Foreign Minister of Funk,” Powell said.

The Kennedy Center Honors Gala is scheduled to air on CBS Dec. 26.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.