Talk:Kennedy Center Honors

More Criticism

There needs to be a larger section on the criticism of these "honors." Only one columnist is quoted (it is a good quote, though). So much has been said, panning the Kennedy Center Honors, that this section needs to be expanded to reflect the general attitude. Readers of this article, perhaps knowing nothing of the KCH, might think, from reading the article, that the honors are more prestigious than they really are. Gingermint (talk) 03:55, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I'm not sure what the "general attitude" toward the Honors is. Has there been a survey? If so, there should be a reference cited.

See Wikipedia:Criticism#Avoid_sections_and_articles_focusing_on_criticisms_or_controversies Becky Sayles (talk) 16:59, 17 November 2014 (UTC)

Unnecessary/Unimportant Detail

Some of the details included now seem not to warrant inclusion, such as the Paul McCartney story (he was busy that weekend) and others. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Avocats (talk • contribs) 07:39, 27 December 2012 (UTC)

Like a brochure

Umm. This page reads like a brochure, or a feature out of a "things to do this weekend" section of a newspaper rather than as an encyclopedia entry... 209.12.241.69 22:36, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

Bob Dylan

"Rich also questioned the selection process, suggesting that candidates such as John Cage, Orson Welles, Marlon Brando, and Bob Dylan had yet to be chosen because"

It says that Bob Dylan was honored in 1997. What this written before that? If so, I think this should be notated. If not, I think a footnote should be added. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.230.156.229 (talk) 14:50, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

Focus is too narrow

It appears that the majority of the focus in the article is on tje 2009 honorees, with Bruce Springsteen in particular. To complicate things further, the descriptions of the part each notable person played on stage (specifically Ron Kovic are poorly written, and don't give the performers enough credit. --Leahtwosaints (talk) 06:29, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

Doris Day

Doris Day turned down the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997. http://www.dorisday.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1973--98.226.9.223 (talk) 15:32, 3 February 2011 (UTC)

American culture?

"The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture." Is this correct? There seems to be no rule that honorees have to be Americans - Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Who, Led Zeppelin are not. Or is it "Americans only, except for British rock stars that Americans love"? Intelligent Mr Toad (talk) 07:28, 11 March 2014 (UTC)

The sentence you quoted doesn't say they have to be Americans – just that they contributed to American culture, which all of the people/groups you mention have done.

The sentence is a paraphrase of "The Kennedy Center Honors provide recognition to living individuals who throughout their lifetimes have made significant contributions to American culture through the performing arts" at their website. —[AlanM1(talk)]— 19:14, 11 March 2014 (UTC)

Considerable limp

It's a limping article without addressing a subject which the reader obviously would wonder about: what's the story on the logotype and it's colors, in which all the recipients apparently are decked out when the gala is televised? I've assumed each one I've seen has represented an LGBT organization, before I knew more. Please explain/expand! --SergeWoodzing (talk) 20:32, 6 April 2016 (UTC)

 Fixed myself as well as I could find a good source.--SergeWoodzing (talk) 18:27, 7 April 2016 (UTC)

2018 honors - no trump

The article already mentions trump lack of participation in the 2017 honors, but it does not mention their participation in the 2018 honors. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ap4lmtree2 (talk • contribs) 10:36, 3 July 2019 (UTC)

Perhaps, if it can be reliably sourced, we should just add that the tradition where the President is expected to attend has been discontinued? --SergeWoodzing (talk) 18:04, 3 July 2019 (UTC)

To add to article

To add to this article: when the color yellow was removed from the Kennedy Center Honors ribbon--and why. 98.123.38.211 (talk) 01:50, 28 December 2023 (UTC)

Edit request

I work in the Kennedy Center Archives, and we are proposing changes in good faith to clarify, update, and provide context to information on this page. Please let me know if I can provide more information relating to suggested changes, but as per WP:SCOIC, I will minimize my participation in the discussion and defer to editors' assessments of appropriate changes.

First Section

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They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five honorees in the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. While the awards are primarily given to individuals, they have occasionally been given to couples or musical groups, as well as to one Broadway musical, one television show, and one entertainment venue.

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They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five Honorees in the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. While the awards are primarily given to individuals, they have occasionally been given to duos or musical groups, as well as to one Broadway musical, one television show, and one performing arts venue.

The term "couples" suggests performers with a romantic relationship, whereas "duos" is more inclusive of artistic partners. "Duos" is also consistent with how artistic partners are described later in the article. "Performing arts venue" is a more narrow, specific description than "entertainment venue."

History

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The Kennedy Center Honors started in 1977,

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The idea for the Kennedy Center Honors began in 1977,

The Honors officially started with the first gala in 1978 as is described within the Wikipedia page. This suggested edit clarifies that it was the planning specifically that began in 1977.

After "...and David Letterman hosted in late 2021. " add "In 2022, David Jammy of Done+Dusted and Elizabeth Kelly of ROK Productions were hired to serve as Executive Producers." This suggested edit provides updated information on the production company for the Honors gala. This article notes the change in production company to Done+Dusted. https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2022/07/21/kennedy-center-honors-u2-clooney/ This site notes Jammy and Kelly by name as Executive Producers for Honors. https://www.paramountfyc.com/the-46th-annual-kennedy-center-honors

After "...and the edited broadcast aired on June 6, 2021." add "Since 2021, the annual Honors broadcast has been available to stream for a limited time through CBS platforms and Paramount+." This addition clarifies the recent change to a longer watch period compared to the former single broadcast event. The streaming information is included in this source: https://www.nj.com/tv/2021/12/the-44th-annual-kennedy-center-honors-2021-free-live-stream-how-to-watch-online-without-cable.html

Selection Process

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Honoree recommendations are accepted from the general public, and the Kennedy Center initiated a Special Honors Advisory Committee, which comprises two members of the board of trustees as well as past honorees and distinguished artists. The executive committee of the board of trustees selects the honoree recipients based on excellence in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures or television. The selections are typically announced sometime between July and September.

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Honoree recommendations are accepted from the general public, and the Kennedy Center initiated a Special Honors Advisory Committee, which comprises members of the board of trustees as well as past Honorees. The executive committee of the board of trustees selects the Honoree recipients based on their impact and contributions to American culture and excellence in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures or television. The selections are typically announced sometime between July and September.

The Honors selection process (which includes more than two members of the Board) is described in this source: https://www.kennedy-center.org/news-room/press-release-landing-page/announcing-the-47th-kennedy-center-honors-slate/ (paragraph beginning "The Honoree selection process includes..."). The phrase "and distinguished artists" is suggested as a removal because it is unclear here that it refers to the Honorees (i.e., no artists who are not Honorees are on the selection committee). The suggested addition of "contributions to American culture" is consistent with the very first sentence of the article, but is appropriate to reiterate in the Selection Process section.

Events

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Prior to 2017, there had been three occasions in which the president did not attend the gala performance. President Jimmy Carter did not attend in 1979 during the Iran hostage crisis; First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as his surrogate. President George H. W. Bush was on a trip to Brussels and could not attend in 1989; First Lady Barbara Bush served as his surrogate.

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Prior to 2017, there had been four occasions in which the president did not attend the gala performance. President Jimmy Carter did not attend in 1979 during the Iran hostage crisis; First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as his surrogate. President George H. W. Bush was on a trip to Brussels and could not attend in 1989 and left before the 1990 gala for a trip to Latin America; First Lady Barbara Bush served as his surrogate both years.

Bush's absence from the 1990 gala is reported in this article: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-03-ca-4481-story.html

Recipients

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On twelve occasions since 1985, awards have been presented to duos or groups

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On thirteen occasions since 1985, awards have been presented to duos or groups

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Members of five music groups were awarded: Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who; John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin; Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh and (posthumously) Glenn Frey of the Eagles; Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and (posthumously) Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire; and Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2.

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Members of six music groups were awarded: Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who; John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin; Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh and (posthumously) Glenn Frey of the Eagles; Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and (posthumously) Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire; Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2, and Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead.

This suggested edit updates this section to include the Grateful Dead, who were announced as recipients of the 2024 Honors. https://www.npr.org/2024/07/17/nx-s1-5043409/2024-kennedy-center-honors

Prospective Honorees...

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In November 2015, one month before the actual ceremony, the Eagles postponed their honors until the following year because Glenn Frey had intestinal problems that required major surgery and a long recovery period.

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In November 2015, one month before the actual ceremony, the Eagles postponed their Honors acceptance until the following year because Glenn Frey had intestinal problems that required major surgery and a long recovery period.

This suggested edit clarifies that the Honors gala itself was not postponed, but the group's acceptance of the Honor was postponed.

KenCenArchCoordHM (talk) 18:16, 19 September 2024 (UTC)

 Done Encoded  Talk 💬 21:03, 1 November 2024 (UTC)