Photo: Ngan/AFP/Getty
Washington D.C.’s elite rubbed elbows with rock & roll royalty Sunday night as Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, John Mellencamp, Sting and Melissa Etheridge paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen, one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors at an elaborate tribute show. Robert DeNiro, Mel Brooks, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and opera soprano Grace Bumbery were the other honorees at the ceremony, which will air December 29th on CBS.
Get a look at artifacts from Springsteen’s four-decade career.
President Barack Obama and Michelle sat alongside the honorees in the balcony at D.C.’s Kennedy Center as colleagues and friends paid loving tribute. Meryl Streep, Martin Scorcese, Harvey Keitel, Ed Norton, Sharon Stone and Ben Stiller started the night with recollections and praise for DeNiro — although Stiller frequently yelled out “Bruuuuce!” and also said hello to “the Nobel Peace Prize guy” and Brooks, who he described as “the Barack Obama for short, funny Jews.”
Next up, Herbie Hancock explained just how pivotal Dave Brubeck was in his career, suggesting that the pianist “is the reason I don’t have a day job.” Then Carl Reiner offered a hysterical, rambling tribute to his onetime comedy partner Brooks, before stars including Matthew Broderick, Martin Short, Harry Connick Jr., Jack Black and Jane Krakowski participated in a medley of songs from the funny man’s movies and plays (although swastikas were notably absent during the “Producers” portion — likely a nod to decorum and the presence of the Commander-in-Chief). Aretha Franklin appeared in a resplendent aqua blue sari to pay tribute to Bumbery, who she defined as “a genuine diva.”
Jon Stewart came onstage to begin the tribute to Springsteen, and defended his credential...
Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily