Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, violinist Midori and Dick Van Dyke were lauded Sunday night at the 43rd Kennedy Center Honors, which was more of a scaled-down event than in years past amid t…
TV uber-creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes called dancer-choreographer-director-producer Allen “an inspiration and a symbol of power.”
For her part, Baez said making a statement with her music was a no-brainer. “Music alone is not enough for me. I never thought about combining music and politics. It just came so naturally to me,” Baez said. Meanwhile, John Lithgow noted that Midori’s “passion for her art is rivaled only by her commitment to improve lives across the globe,” noting she’s founded several nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping others.
Brooks was feted by a performance from Kelly Clarkson, who sang a stripped-down but powerful version of his hit “The Dance,” as Brooks became visibly emotional in the audience, tearing up while sitting beside wife Trisha Yearwood. At the end of Clarkson’s performance, he jumped out of his seat and gave a cheer.