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AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF RENOWNED ARTISTS SALUTES THIS YEAR’S HONOREES IN “THE 44th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS,” WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22 ON CBS
2021 Kennedy Center honorees
Standing, left to right: Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler
Sitting, left to right: Justino Díaz, Joni Mitchell, Berry Gordy
Following are honoree, presenter, performer and production credits for THE 44th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, an entertainment special to be broadcast Wednesday, Dec. 22 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
WELCOME: |
David Letterman Emmy® Award-winning television host, comedian, writer and producer and 2012 Kennedy Center honoree |
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HONOREE: |
Joni Mitchell |
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GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and GRAMMY Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and painter |
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FILM NARRATOR: |
Graham Nash GRAMMY Award-winning British-American singer-songwriter and musician |
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PRESENTERS: |
Cameron Crowe Academy Award®-winning director, producer, screenwriter, journalist, author and actor |
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Dan Levy Emmy Award-winning Canadian actor, writer, director, comedian, and producer |
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TRIBUTE PERFORMERS: |
Norah Jones (Performs “The Circle Game,” “A Case of You,” “Help Me”) GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist |
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Ellie Goulding (Performs “Big Yellow Taxi”) GRAMMY Award-nominated English singer and songwriter |
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Brandi Carlile (Performs “River”) GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter and producer |
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Herbie Hancock (Performs “Both Sides Now”) GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, GRAMMY Award and Academy Award-winning jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer and occasional actor and 2013 Kennedy Center honoree |
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Brittany Howard (Performs “Both Sides Now”) GRAMMY Award-winning musician, singer and songwriter |
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HONOREE: |
Justino Díaz Puerto Rican bass-baritone opera singer |
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FILM NARRATOR: |
Chita Rivera Tony® Award-winning actress, singer and dancer, 2002 Kennedy Center honoree; received 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom |
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PRESENTERS: |
Grace Bumbry GRAMMY Award-winning mezzo-soprano/soprano opera singer, 2009 Kennedy Center honoree |
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Denyce Graves GRAMMY Award-winning mezzo-soprano opera singer |
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Chita Rivera Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer, 2002 Kennedy Center honoree; received 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom |
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TRIBUTE PERFORMERS: |
Christian Van Horn (Performs “Votre Toast (Toreador Song),” “Final Scene from Faust”) Bass-baritone opera singer |
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Denyce Graves (Performs “Votre Toast (Toreador Song)”) Mezzo-soprano opera singer |
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Ariana Wehr (Performs “Votre Toast (Toreador Song)”) Brazilian-born opera singer |
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Hannah Shea (Performs “Votre Toast (Toreador Song)”) Mezzo-soprano opera singer |
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Ana María Martínez (Performs “Final Scene from Faust”) Latin Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican soprano opera singer |
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Matthew Polenzani (Performs “Final Scene from Faust”) Lyric tenor opera singer |
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HONOREE: |
Berry Gordy GRAMMY Award-nominated former record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer best known as the founder of Motown |
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FILM NARRATOR: |
Oprah Winfrey Emmy Award and Tony Award-winning talk show host, television producer, actress, author and philanthropist and 2010 Kennedy Center honoree |
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PRESENTERS: |
Smokey Robinson GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, record producer and former record executive director, and 2006 Kennedy Center honoree |
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TRIBUTE PERFORMERS: |
Smokey Robinson (Performs “Did You Know”) GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, record producer and former record executive director, and 2006 Kennedy Center honoree |
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“Ain’t Too Proud” Broadway Cast (Performs “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”) GRAMMY Award-nominated and Tony Award-winning musical based on the story of the Temptations |
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Andra Day (Performs “God Bless the Child”) GRAMMY Award and Academy Award-nominated singer, songwriter and actress |
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Stevie Wonder (Performs “Fingertips Pt. 2,” “My Cherie Amour,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Superstition”) GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, multiple GRAMMY Award and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and record producer, and 1999 Kennedy Center honoree |
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PRODUCED BY: |
White Cherry Entertainment |
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: |
Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss |
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DIRECTOR: |
Glenn Weiss |
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WRITER: |
Dave Boone |
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SUPERVISING PRODUCER: |
Rob Paine |
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COORDINATING PRODUCER: |
Lisa Anderson |
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PRODUCTION DESIGNER: |
Steve Bass |
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LIGHTING DESIGNER: |
Bob Dickinson |
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MUSIC DIRECTOR: |
Rickey Minor |
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CONDUCTOR: |
Patrick Vaccariello |
RATING: To Be Announced
GENRE: Awards
Photos available at https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/the-44th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/photos
Official CBS website: www.cbs.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CBS
Instagram: @CBSTV
Twitter: @CBS
CBS PR Twitter: @CBSTweet
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Press Contacts:
Kate Fisher |
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Jordan Kowalski |
Photo Contact:
Michele Crowe |
For the Kennedy Center:
Eileen Andrews |
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Publicity
Kate Fisher
khfisher@viacomcbs.com