2024 Kennedy Center Honors

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the next five honorees who will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements.

Director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola ("The Godfather, Apocalypse Now)

Rock band The Grateful Dead (Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir)

Blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, Bonnie Raitt

Jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval

The Apollo, which will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution.

A pretty solid group, but surprisingly, no theater or dance honoree this year. And no CBS-centric smh honoree like Tom Selleck or Cedric the Entertainer.

At this point I tend to think Liza turned it down? What other reasoning is there?

Ask any non-theater savvy person who Audra McDonald is and they have no idea who she is. Even those who watch THE GILDED AGE. Heck, I know countless people who go to Broadway regularly and have no idea who she is. Even when you point her out to them. I know many film/TV industry people who had no idea Ana Gasteyer was on Broadway and can even sing. Audra may have 75 Tony Awards, an Emmy Award and several nominations, but she’s not known my the mainstream masses.

Liza will never get one, but if for whatever reason she does, I’m going to run on stage and steal it just so we can continue to have the same conversation every year.

JSquared2 said: "Cue the "But what about Liza" contingent!

Seriously though-- what ABOUT Liza??

Seriously though -- what about classical music and/or opera? They used to be the backbone of the Honors.


"

“ You one phunny girl. They are given the medal in advance and are wearing them around their necks in their box seats at the start of the ceremony. They never ever walk down and on to the stage.”

Thank you for explaining something that didn’t need to be explained. Did you also explain this to your parents in South Florida?

BroadwayNYC2 said: "“ You one phunny girl. They are given the medal in advance and are wearing them around their necks in their box seats at the start of the ceremony. They never ever walk down and on to the stage.”

Thank you for explaining something that didn’t need to be explained. Did you also explain this to your parents in South Florida?"

I most likely would have had to but luckily, they are both dead now so that saved lots of time. Phew, I tell ya.

BrodyFosse123 said: "Ask any non-theater savvy person who Audra McDonald is and they have no idea who she is. Even when you point her out to them."

I am proof of this. Despite being someone who has been going to the theatre (in the UK) since the early 90s, I did not recognise Audra when she was the guest producer at the final night of Gutenberg! which I attended. I mentioned it on here and was mocked by a couple of people so I am pleased to hear that I am far from alone in being unfamiliar with her work (and face).