Kennedy Center honors Streisand

Barbra Streisand, a vocal critic of President Bush, visited the White House this weekend but kept the gloves on.

The Brooklyn-born diva was one of six performing artists celebrated at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, one of the most prestigious awards in the arts.

Streisand and fellow award recipients -- actor Morgan Freeman, country music giant George Jones, choreographer Twyla Tharp, and the Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey -- were feted during two days of events that seemed, for a rare moment in the nation’s capital, to relegate politics to the back seat.

“This is being honored by your country,” said Streisand, 66, at a black-tie party Saturday night in the State Department’s ornate Thomas Jefferson room. “It was nice to get the Legion of Honor from France, but it’s nice to get it from your own country too.”

Streisand, a stalwart Democrat, added that it “would have been nice” to receive the award next year, from Bush’s successor, but she’s not complaining.

Freeman was honored Sunday night with words from fellow actor Denzel Washington and a performance by B.B. King.

The 71-year-old Freeman is known for his roles in “Driving Miss Daisy,” “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Million Dollar Baby,” the latter of which earned him the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 2005.

But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would remember him most for his role in the 1998 movie “Deep Impact,” in which Freeman played an African American president of the United States trying to protect the country from a comet hurtling toward Earth.

“Most people thought that would only happen when a comet hit the United States,” Rice said, with a nod toward the incoming administration. “But wonders of wonders, fiction has come true.”

First Lady Laura Bush spoke in honor of Jones, the country music singer considered to have one of the greatest voices in American popular music.

“I have been very lucky to walk through this world with my own George, and in that walk we have heard few sounds more lovely than the voice of George Jones,” she said.

Jones, 77, overcame substance abuse problems during a long career that began at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. His hit songs include “White Lightning,” “The Grand Tour” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He also had three No. 1 hits with the late Tammy Wynette, who was his wife for six years.

Country singers Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks honored Jones.

Despite the atmosphere of gaiety, any lifetime achievement award contains an element of nostalgia. Or as Twyla Tharp put it: “It’s the beginning of the ninth life. Cats have nine lives -- this begins the ninth.”

Tharp, 67, is best known for pushing dance beyond the standard categories of ballet, modern and jazz. She has created dances to the music of Bob Dylan and Billy Joel, and even a ballet to the songs of the Beach Boys.

“Twyla was challenging because she would never compromise on integrity,” said Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “She taught me the difference between making a ballet and making art.”

Perhaps the most raucous tributes, however, were those by Jack Black, Joss Stone, Chris Cornell, Rob Thomas and Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl, who performed the Who songs “My Generation” and “Who Are You” for Townshend and Daltrey.

The British rock ‘n’ rollers, who say they were influenced by American artists, said they were honored to be recognized but slightly amused too.

“When a rap artist finally rolls up here and gets the Kennedy honors, it’s the end of rap really, isn’t it?” Townshend said. “Because the establishment can hear you. So, in a sense, in a way, you kind of feel that about rock [now].”

Though the awards are meant to honor a lifetime of work, all of this year’s artists are still working.

On Saturday night, Townshend and Tharp were deep in conversation at the edge of the party.

Asked if she would consider working with Townshend, Tharp answered immediately: “Of course. He’s a great jumper.”

The honors, in their 31st year, will be broadcast Dec. 30 on CBS.

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cynthia.dizikes@latimes.com