#Gladys knight restaurant in new york series#

Jazz pianist Jason Moran, singer Alicia Hall Moran and cellist Sterling Elliott played one of León's creations, 'Oh Yemanja.' 'How do I convey the extent of your musical genius?' asked actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith.

#Gladys knight restaurant in new york series#

She also instituted the Brooklyn Philharmonic Community Concert Series and in 2021 received the Pulitzer Prize for her work 'Stride,' inspired by women's rights champion Susan B. The performers were from the Dance Theatre of Harlem, which León helped found when she eventually made her way to New York City. 'Amy also taught me that it was possible to be funny, irreverent and Christian all at the same,' said Crow.įive ballet dancers took to the stage to honor composer and conductor Tania León, who left Cuba as a refugee in 1967 her passport was stamped 'Cancelado' when she left the country. Crow talked about Grant's influence on her when she was a young college student. In Grant's, her children talked about their mother's influence on them. He cited Knight's 'roots in country music' before launching into the classic.Įach artist was introduced by a video compilation showing snippets of their lives. Knight - usually with her backup singers, The Pips - has recorded dozens of albums with such classic hits as 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' and 'Midnight Train to Georgia.' The challenge of singing that classic in front of the woman who made it famous fell to country music superstar Garth Brooks, who is a Kennedy Center honoree in his own right. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Sunday, Dec. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden stand with the 2022 Kennedy Center Honorees during the 45th Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. But it was Clooney's father who probably had the strongest praise, telling the crowd and his son, sitting in the balcony between León and U2's Bono, 'George's best and most important work is still ahead of him. Cheadle highlighted Clooney's philanthropic work. in 1968 - gave his father all his toy guns.ĭamon took the funny road, joking about how Clooney once stole then-President Bill Clinton's stationery and wrote notes to fellow actors on it. The actor's father, Nick Clooney, regaled the crowd with stories of a young George, including the time the 7-year-old - heartbroken over the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. After an introduction that alternated between funny and heartfelt she turned to a set designed to look like a smoky bar - the type Clooney might enjoy. Roberts set the tone by coming out onstage with a dress emblazoned with photos of Clooney. On the red carpet, Clooney, with his wife, Amal, beside him, joked that after seeing friends like Don Cheadle and Julia Roberts in attendance he was worried his tribute would be more of a 'roast.' And it was a bit like that, though his friends and family showed obvious respect. Normally performers like U2 or Knight would be headlining such a show, but during the Kennedy Center event the honorees sit in the balcony and watch as their peers laud them and perform their works. The couple received a standing ovation from the crowd.Ĭulture The Kennedy Center and other sites light up their buildings to support Ukraine He is recovering from a brutal attack in the Pelosis' San Francisco home in October. One audience member from the political world - Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - drew some attention. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their respective spouses were in attendance, as were members the President's Cabinet and Congress. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which annually honors a select group of people for their artistic influences on American culture. Knight, Clooney, Grant, León and U2 were all celebrated at the John F. Matt Damon playfully teased his friend George Clooney - a lot - while Sheryl Crow delivered a heartfelt rendition of 'Baby Baby' to Amy Grant during Sunday's Kennedy Center Honors. Sean Penn called U2 'four scrappy Dublin punks.' Ballet dancers performed for conductor and composer Tania León.

WASHINGTON - A heartfelt Patti LaBelle praised her lifelong friend Gladys Knight. Gladys Knight arrives to attend the Kennedy Center honorees reception at the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec.