- Title: George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, U2 receive Kennedy Center Honors
- Date: 5th December 2022
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 4, 2022) (REUTERS) KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY AND WIFE AMAL CLOONEY ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY, SAYING ON WHETHER HE EVER IMAGINED BEING AWARDED THE KENNEDY HONOR: "No, I didn't. I grew up on a you know, in a small town in Kentucky. I cut tobacco for a living for $3 an hour. And sitting here and being able to stand here with my stunning, intelligent, brilliant wife and sit up on the balcony where Gregory Peck sat, and where Jimmy Stewart sat, no, I didn't think that was going to happen. And if you'd picked about a million versions of me, you probably wouldn't have thought that that happened either." THE CLOONEYS ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY, SAYING: "And Matt Damon's here and Julia is here and people who I've worked with over 20, 30 years. And so it's not as much reflection as gratitude to have such great friends in the industry." KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE AND SINGER-SONGWRITER AMY GRANT SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON RED CARPET, CLOONEY ON BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY, SAYING: "This is a beautiful award. It's really cool. My wife happens to be the best warrior for journalists in the world. So so I'll stand to this side when you talk about warriors for the press. But I'm a big, I'm a big believer in the work that she does." KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE AND SINGER GLADYS KNIGHT SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON RED CARPET, CLOONEY ON BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY AND WIFE AMAL, SAYING: GEORGE CLOONEY: "Gladys (Knight) got up, to get an award. She sang, and it just changed the room. It was just amazing." AMAL CLOONEY: "There were tears." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY, SAYING: "It's really cool. It's cool to be out here with with my friends. And it's fun to, you know, you don't have to sit and wonder if you're going to win either. You already know, which is helpful. GEORGE ASKING WIFE AMAL: "What do you think about that, that's not a bad thing." AMAL CLOONEY: "That's a big advantage actually." GEORGE CLOONEY: "And also it's fun to be in it. You know, I didn't know Tania Leon at all. I'd never met Amy Grant before, she is such a beautiful soul. And so it's just been a wonderful weekend for us." THE CLOONEYS ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY AND AMAL CLOONEY, SAYING ON WHETHER HIS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AWARD HE JUST RECEIVED: "Oh, they don't, I keep trying to explain to them what a big star I am. And they don't really care. And they don't actually believe me." GEORGE ASKING AMAL: "Do they?" AMAL CLOONEY: "No." GEORGE CLOONEY: "No they don't." AMAL CLOONEY: "One day." GEORGE CLOONEY: "Someday." REPORTER (OFF CAMERA) ASKING: "What does it mean to have Amal's support here?" GEORGE CLOONEY: "It'd be horrible if she didn't. Terrible" AMAL CLOONEY: "It's really been a magical weekend." GEORGE CLOONEY: "Yeah, it's really been fun." (George Clooney overheard joking with the Irish television crew) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND FILMMAKER GEORGE CLOONEY, ANSWERING WHAT WOULD HE HAVE AS FIRST DRINK OF THE NIGHT: "Oh I think I'd have a Reposado on the rocks Casa Amigos." KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE CUBAN-BORN AMERICAN COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND EDUCATOR TANIA LEON ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN-BORN AMERICAN COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND EDUCATOR TANIA LEON, SAYING: "This (The Kennedy award) has been something really important in my life." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CUBAN-BORN AMERICAN COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND EDUCATOR TANIA LEON, SAYING: "This is sort of like one of the biggest surprises in my life. You know, I mean, since my arrival (from Cuba to the United States when she was young), I was actually mentioning that its like every time this is a surprise, surprise and another surprise. It hasn't stopped." LEON SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) CUBAN-BORN AMERICAN COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND EDUCATOR TANIA LEON, SAYING: "Well, one of the things that I say is I don't believe in being in the minority. We are a minority in the universe. You see, I mean, we live, we are human beings, a species, in a planet in the middle of nowhere. We don't know where we are. Even that the scientist tells us, you know, we are in this galaxy and we are the fifth planet and things like that. So therefore, that's why I say we are minorities in the universe. You know, all human beings are the minority." DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM ARTISTS ATTENDING TO HONOR LEON, SAYING THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR TANIA LEON, DANCERS OF COLOR WOULD NOT BE THERE WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM, DANCER, DELANEY WASHINGTON: "It's amazing to see a woman of color finally get the recognition she deserves. I think it inspires us all to keep pushing and keep breaking those barriers and boundaries." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM, LINDSEY DONNELL: "I was introduced to Tania Leon when she directed one of our pieces that we danced at Dance Theater of Harlem. And it was so powerful. It's called Dougla, and it brought the culture of the West Indies and merged it with ballet. So that was kind of an eye opening experience for me. And the music embodied such power, which helped me, you know, embrace the character in a new way. And I loved that" PAST KENEDY CENTER HONOREE, SESAME STREET'S BIG BIRD, WALKING THE RED CARPET / WALKING PAST SINGER AND SONGWRITER COUPLE ELLIE AND DREW HOLCOMB GRANT AND CLOONEY SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER-SONGWRITER AMY GRANT, SAYING: "Oh, my goodness. Well, first off, I am bowled away to be a part of this class of the Kennedy Center Honors. I don't think I've totally wrap my head around being a part of this class, but I've loved hearing every person's story. And especially the events that we've done up until tonight, have just made us feel so appreciative of each other. And I believe that that's going to just set the stage for the whole audience to just feel embraced by hope. And love and celebration. And everybody needs a good dose of that." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER AND SONGWRITER COUPLE ELLIE AND DREW HOLCOMB, SAYING ON GRANT: DREW HOLCOMB: "You know, Ellie can answer more expansively. I know for me, she was one of my first concerts as a kid. My mom was a big fan and she's like, Hey, you want to go to this concert? And I was probably nine or ten years old, and it was my first real big arena show. And she just had this capacity, you know the room full of thousands of people. I think everybody in the room felt seen by her and her music has done that. Her life has been a reflection of that as well." ELLIE HOLCOMB: "Yeah. I think my dad produced her first, all her first records. So as a little girl, you know, it's a it's a full circle moment being on a red carpet, having watched her as a little girl on a red carpet and do that exact same thing, she really sees people and she believes to her core that every story matters. And she is a there-you-are person, not a here-I-am person. Even though she's been on a stage for a lot of her life, she lives invitationally. And I think her music has has that effect on people too. And so to see it brought into this sphere of other music makers and creators is a gift, because I think a lot of us have felt more at home with ourselves because of the songs that she's written." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER-SONGWRITER AMY GRANT, SAYING ON RECOVERING AFTER A BICYCLE ACCIDENT EARLIER THIS YEAR: "Am I drooling? (laughs) Well, actually, last week was my first time back on stage, and I and I can't think of a more gentle way to get back into the limelight than doing a Christmas concert with my dear friend Michael W. Smith. And I was nervous that first day. I forgot lyrics to songs that I wrote. But, you know, I'm just on a healing journey. But this time here, you know, love and kindness is also very healing. And I'm not kidding. I feel filled up from head to toe." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER-SONGWRITER AMY GRANT, SAYING ON SUPPORT FROM HUSBAND DURING RECOVERY: "You know, he just has been so patient and Vince has a way of kind of grounding the space that we're in even without saying a word. And I think early on I said, What if I'm different? What if I'm not the same? And he said, Hey, every day we wake up a little different, we love each other and its good. And I feel like my old rascally self." (SOUNDBITE) (English) HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY INTRODUCING THEMSELVES ON THE RED CARPET: "We are the Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University. And it is truly an honor to be here at the Kennedy Center Honors. We are the only college gospel choir that is taking the stage tonight and you are going to love it. And its out third time appearing at the Kennedy Center Honors and we hope to return." / WALKING OVER HONOREES SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER GLADYS KNIGHT, SAYING: "I am truly overjoyed. I am. Any time that I can see an opportunity or some friends or people or whatever, and we come together, look at all these people in here, you know, and we're all here for the same reason, trying to lift things up, trying to have some joy and all of that, you know. And that's really what it's all about." SINGER PATTI LABELLE ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER GLADYS KNIGHT, SAYING ABOUT LABELLE: "Oh, that's my little sister. We have been together since we were like this. And every now and then, things get a little rough. You know, we got kids. We both had children the same time (laughs)." REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): "How do you feel about receiving the honor tonight?" KNIGHT: "Well, this is amazing because, you know, this is about the world. This is not just about me or some other person that has feelings about making things better, you know? But the fact that they even allowed themselves to do something like that is amazing." (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMEDIAN LONI LOVE, SAYING: "I am just so honored to be here. I'm on the Artists Committee for the 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, and this is something that I grew up watching as a young girl. So this is like a surreal moment for me. Gladys Knight, being one of the honorees, I opened up for Gladys many moons ago. And she's come on my talk show at the time. And, you know, I've gone to her birthday parties and, you know, everyone else. I love Amy Grant, George, you know, U2, of course. It's just going to be a wonderful night." SINGER BRANDI CARLILE SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER BRANDI CARLILE, SAYING: "I mean, so many memorable there. There's so many songs that I wouldn't have written without U2, without Joshua Tree. There are so many vocal attributes that I wouldn't have in my voice if it weren't for Amy Grant. The thing I like about honoring both of them is the way that they walk through the world in just total like, with love and justice on their sleeves, you know? And they're kind of outward facing faith-based artists. Like they operate from a from a basis of their faith. And as a person sort of marginalized by major world religions and sort of faith structures, the way that they've embraced LGBTQIA people publicly, I think does a lot for my people and for the trauma that we have experienced at the hands of the faith and the kind of organized religion. So they're an exception to that rule. And I think they change the way that it's done. I think they changed the way that God and faith are seen and practiced. And the fact that they have that in common and that I get to honor them both tonight is impactful to me and to my sort of inner child." KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE U2 BAND MEMBER ADAM CLAYTON ARRIVING KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE U2 BAND MEMBER LARRY MULLEN JR. ARRIVING KENNEDY CENTER HONOREE U2 BAND MEMBER BONO ARRIVING WITH WIFE ALI HEWSON / BONO STOPPING TO TELL A CAMERAMAN WHO HAD JUST FALLEN (OFF CAMERA) (English) "You did not dropped that camera, that's amazing. With all this no questioning, how would I not speak to you after making an entrance like that, that was brilliant." / (SOUNDBITE) (English) U2 BAND MEMBER BONO, SAYING: REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): "What's it like to get honored for lifetime achievement? For contribution to American culture? As an Irish band." BONO: "Yeah as an Irish person, as an Irish band that was amazing. Irish people, I don't know I don't think they have figured out that yet that we are not American. Brilliant. And you know to come from where we've come. You know, we weren't we weren't a very (inaudible) band, you know, to have the red carpet rolled out for you. And the White House sounds a little, a little bit mad for a band like those. But in a certain sense you know, our band's about, if it's about any single word, it's, it's freedom. And that house (allegedly referring to The White House), you know, that place. That's where freedom lives. You know, and especially in this time, you know, you never thought freedom of being under such threat. And he's (allegedly speaking about US President Joe Biden) very kind. You know, he has sort of kindness as a strength who would have thought that kindness was a revolutionary idea either. But this president has kindness as a feature and strength. And there's something very old school about him. Old school pugilist. You know, you hear wouldn't know. You know such a gentleman, but great strength. We really loved him." / BONO TURNS TO WIFE ALI HEWSON HEWSOM: "Amazing, very special moment." / BONO AND HEWSON WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 19th December 2022 03:59
- Keywords: Amy Grant George Clooney Gladys Knight Kennedy Awards Kennedy Center Honors Tania León U2
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA001440205122022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Actor George Clooney, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, singer Gladys Knight, composer Tania León and rock group U2 were celebrated on Sunday (December 4) for their contributions to the arts at a White House reception and at the Kennedy Center Honors show.
The Kennedy Center event, now in its 45th year, recognizes stars from music, stage and screen for their contributions to American culture. At a reception for the five honorees at the White House beforehand, President Joe Biden addressed each personally, praising their individual talents and saying they embodied the spirit of the country.
Actress Julia Roberts Roberts, who has co-starred in multiple films with Clooney, wore a floor-length gown to the awards with framed images of him on it.
The show highlighted the five artists' work, and represented a return to the times before the coronavirus pandemic began; on Sunday night, there was no requirement for testing or masking to attend although hundreds died of the disease in the United States last week. Clooney, an actor and filmmaker who played a doctor on the popular NBC television show "ER" before launching a movie career that earned him two Academy Awards, said becoming a Kennedy Center honoree was a little daunting.
Grant rose to prominence as a contemporary Christian music singer who later crossed over to pop stardom, amassing six Grammy Awards.
Knight, who has won seven Grammy Awards, is famous for hit songs including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia" as the lead singer of The Pips, which became Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1962.
Cuban-born León is a conductor as well as a composer, whose orchestral piece "Stride" won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music.
Irish band U2, with members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., has won 22 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Inside the Kennedy Center opera house where the show was held, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul, who has been recovering after he was attacked in October in their San Francisco home, got a standing ovation when they appeared at the balcony.
(Production: Greg Savoy, Temis Tormo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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