Performing Artists Honored for Influences on American Culture

Performing Artists Honored for Influences on American Culture

A group of performing artists were honored Sunday night for their influence on American arts and culture. The honorees included actor George Clooney, singer Amy Grant, composer Tania Leon, singer Gladys Knight¹ and Irish rock group U2.

A ceremony celebrating the artists was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The event just entered its 45th year.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice² President Kamala Harris attended the gathering³, along with cabinet members and leaders from Congress.

Before the event, Biden personally praised the honorees at a reception at the White House. He recognized the performers for their individual abilities and said the group represented the spirit of the whole country.

The show celebrated⁴ all the honorees' work, but none of them personally performed. Instead, other artists performed their works for the crowd.

Actor and filmmaker Clooney told reporters he felt especially honored because he used to watch the Kennedy Center Honors show on television while growing up in a small Kentucky town. He remembered seeing people like Jimmy Stewart and Robert Redford receive the award.

"That's an exciting fraternity to be a part of," Clooney said.

Actors Julia Roberts and Matt Damon joined Clooney's father Nick, and others, on the Kennedy Center's stage to honor him. "George's best and most important work is still ahead of him," Clooney's father said.

Six-time Grammy Award winner Grant told reporters before the event she felt honored to be chosen. But the singer added that she also felt "a debt of gratitude⁵" for all the people who have worked together with her over the past 40 years.

"Everything takes a village," Grant said.

Singers Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, CeCe Winans and BeBe Winans were among the artists who celebrated Grant with a selection of her songs.

Knight, who has won seven Grammy Awards, is famous for hits including I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Midnight Train to Georgia. She started out as the lead singer of The Pips, which became Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1962.

Rapper and actor LL Cool J said Knight "connects with you on a deeper, spiritual level." Singers including Garth Brooks⁶ and Patti LaBelle performed some of Knight's songs.

Cuban-born León is a conductor as well as a composer. Her orchestral piece Stride won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

Composer and opera singer Alicia Hall Moran said León's pieces represent "moments in time, inspired by art and history and nature." She and her husband Jason Moran, along with cellist⁷ Sterling⁸ Elliott, performed León's work Oh Yemanja.

The final tribute of the evening went to the Irish band U2. The group – with members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. – has won 22 Grammy Awards. U2 was selected in 2005 for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In a pre-recorded video, U2 guitarist The Edge noted⁹ that a group of four "Irish lads" were being honored for contributions to American culture. He noted that there is a strong connection between the group and America that cannot really be explained.

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder sang U2's Elevation¹⁰ and One. Comedy actor Sacha Baron¹¹ Cohen brought his movie character Borat to the stage as part of the U2 tribute. American singer Brandi Carlile, Irish artist Hozier and Ukrainian singer Jamala closed out the show with an emotional version of U2's Walk On.

The Kennedy Center Honors show will be broadcast on the American television network CBS on December 28.

Words in This Story

composer – n. someone who writes music

fraternity – n. a feeling of friendship between people

gratitude – n. the feeling or quality of being grateful: feeling or showing thanks

conductor – n. someone who stands in front of a group of musicians or singers and leads their performance

orchestra – n. a large group of musicians who play different instruments together

inspire – v. to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it

contribution – n. something you do to help produce or develop something

stage – n. a raised area where people perform

1 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

6 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网

8 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

11 baron   

n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王

参考例句：

• Henry Ford was an automobile baron.亨利·福特是一位汽车业巨头。
• The baron lived in a strong castle.男爵住在一座坚固的城堡中。