‘Piano Man’ singer Billy Joel was honored Sunday at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for his impact on American culture, followed by a reception hosted by the President and First Lady in the East Room of the White House.
Other recipients of the coveted ribbon medallion awards were actress Shirley MacLaine, musician-songwriter Carlos Santana, opera singer Martina Arroyo and musician-composer Herbie Hancock.
Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubenstein stated, “We celebrate these five extraordinary individuals, who have spent their lives elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and world.”
The two-hour event was taped by CBS for broadcast on December 29, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Joel, a six-time Grammy Award-winner said, “To be chosen for this special award essentially for doing what I love most amazes me more than anything. This is different. It’s our nation’s capital. This is coming more from my country than just people who come to see me. It’s a little overwhelming.”
This latest honor comes on the heels of a deal the 64-year-old Bronx-born music superstar recently signed to perform a dozen monthly concerts in 2014 at Madison Square Garden – which is being described as the Midtown venue’s first “musical franchise.”
Saturday night the honorees attended a black-tie dinner at the State Department that was hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry. He told the gathered crowd, “They are loved by so many, imitated by some, but never ever can they be replaced. We are reminded that the role of arts can also never be replaced.”
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Photo: Video Screen Grab, Twitter-TheObamaDiary