The Kennedy Center Honors take place this weekend in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will host the honorees at the White House and attend the Sunday ceremony performance not just because they love the arts. They recently spent Thanksgiving weekend at the Nantucket mansion of Kennedy Center’s unofficial owner, Carlyle Group CEO David Rubenstein. (They also kinda own the Washington Monument.)
I’m told that Gladys Knight, who will finally get an Honor, will be presented with her induction by none other than Patti Labelle. My guess is Patti will sing one of Gladys’s many hits like “Midnight Train to Georgia” or “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” It’s possible Dionne Warwick will make an appearance, too. Gladys, Patti, and Dionne are lifelong pals.
George Clooney, U2, Amy Grant, and Tania Leon are the other inductees. Clooney’s list of friends is enormous, but I’d count on Julia Roberts doing the presenting since they are currently in a hit movie together. Amy Grant may see husband Vince Gill on stage. Bruce Springsteen or even Sting would be excellent choices for U2.
The finished show airs on CBS later in December.
PS My only regret here is that honorees themselves don’t perform. To hear Gladys in that special would really make it special!
