Who Deserves a to be honored by the Kennedy Center next?

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:01pm

Since the Kennedy Center Honors are airing tonight I thought it might be fun to throw out some names.

Carol Channing - the clock is ticking here folks...
Elaine Stritch
Ben Vereen
Liza Minnelli
Dick Van Dyke
Mary Tyler Moore
Maggie Smith
Betty White
Rita Moreno
Judi Dench
Burt Bacharach
Ian Mckellen
Patrick Stewart
Ellen Burstyn
Hal Prince
Diahann Carroll
Jonathan Tunick - would he be someone they would honor?
Glenn Close
Quincy Jones
Vanessa Redgrave



It's interesting that they are one of the few organizations that take suggestions from the public. You can make them on their website.


I might post later w/ some theater people I think are worthy of the honor later in their career. I almost didn't put Glenn, but they seem to give it to movie people earlier. Probably to boost ratings or promote a current project like when Meryl got it the year of The Iron Lady.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:14pm

Yes, Carol Channing for sure. She's getting on in years. It would be a travesty if the Kennedy Centers failed to honor her. They should do it, already! I don't know about Judi Dench. Is being American a requirement for the Kennedy Center Honors? How about Olivia de Havilland?

Updated On: 12/29/13 at 05:14 PM

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:18pm

I don't believe there's any American requirement. ALW, Elton John, Paul Mccartney, etc. have all received them so I think it's just about contributions of art to the American landscape.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:33pm

Hal Prince got his honor around the time that the revival of "Show Boat" was on Broadway.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:43pm

I searched them on the site before posting but searched him under Hal rather than Harold. Thanks for the fix sondheimboy.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 5:55pm

As for general recommendations, I think George Strait is past due one (I expect him to be the next country artist they honor). I concur about Betty White and also think Regis Philbin is an excellent candidate. As far as theater people, the above list is great. I'd add Patti LuPone, Stephen Schwartz, and Alan Menken (incredibly surprised he hasn't already been honored).

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 6:13pm

I debated Lupone and Peters and thought they might be a tad young, though I don't know what brought be to that conclusion. Schwartz and Menken are great suggestions!

There are a lot of great recording artists I love, that I'm pretty sure haven't gotten one but I'm feeling too lazy now to look them up lol. Maybe later.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 7:45pm

The clock is really ticking for all of them. But...LIZA LIZA LIZA.

[The Josh]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 7:55pm

Dick van Dyke!

[The Josh]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 7:56pm

Dick van Dyke!

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 8:08pm

Quincy Jones was honored in 2001.

Woody Allen
David Bowie
Faye Dunaway
Philip Glass
Gene Hackman
Diane Keaton
Joni Mitchell
Al Pacino
Steve Reich
The Rolling Stones (perhaps just Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, but Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood deserve it, too.)
Neil Young

and I agree with many of the other ones mentioned.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 8:16pm

Grr! How did I miss Jones in my search? Thanks jnb. Apologies for my lackluster fact checking. YES to Woody, Joni, and pretty much all of those.

It might be interesting to open up the discussion to people they missed out the opportunity to honor. I think it's sad Marvin Hamlisch and Andy Griffith passed before they had the chance to be recognized. Those are the first two that pop into my head.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 8:48pm

I think Stephen Schwartz would be a good choice down the line. I keep joking that at the end of the tribute everyone involved can sing, "Stephen, We Have Been Changed for Good"

[suttonfoster]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:24pm

Am I mistaken, or has Sondheim never been honored by the Kennedy Center?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:25pm

I think Alan Menken, Carol Channing, Liza Minelli, and Dick Van Dyke would all be great choices!

[A Director]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:41pm

Here's the link to who has been honored.

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history.cfm

Liza should not be honored.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:44pm

You are mistaken, Sutton.

[DrewBill]

Posted: 12/29/13 at 11:49pm

In addition to those mentioned above, I would add Linda Ronstadt to the list of potential nominees. It seems very possible, as the Kennedy Center was heavily criticized earlier this year for having almost no Latino honorees. (Ronstadt's family background is partly Mexican.)

Also, I remember reading a long article on the process a year or two ago in the Washington Post (I think). It mentioned that more than a few have turned it down over the years. I could be wrong, but I believe Paul McCartney was one who initially refused the award, but a few years later finally accepted it. Also, some turn it down because they don't want to receive the honor during an administration that they don't support politically.

[Rhoda4]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 8:57am

I almost thought they were honoring Michelle Obama - - They showed her on camera last night more often than the actual nominees...... It was so damn annoying!

Updated On: 12/30/13 at 08:57 AM

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 9:27am

Macca had turned it down in the past, I believe that's confirmed. It also came up in a conversation on the off-topic board, but I believe Doris Day has turned down the Honor as well due to her crippling fear of flying. Perhaps Woody Allen's refusal to attend awards in Los Angeles extends to D.C. and this Honor, though that's pure speculation.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 9:50am

YES to Maggie Smith. Also George Strait.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 10:39am

I agree with DrewBill. Linda Ronstadt definitely deserves it. She's a national treasure and sadly her beautiful voice has been silenced by Parkinson's. She's left us a rich and varied musical legacy.

[bobs3]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 11:44am

Ronstadt seems to be a good bet for the next pop star they honor. She has a great body of work (and her Hispanic heritage won't hurt her chances).

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 11:56am

It's pretty crazy to me that David Bowie has not been honored. One of the single most influential musical and cultural figures of the past 40 years.

After Schwartz and Menken are there any other living Broadway composers of note left to be honored? 5, 10, 20 years from now, do you think any of our current crop of composers will be honored? Maybe LaChiusa or Guettel if their works continue to be produced?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/30/13 at 12:04pm

I would argue that Ahrens and Flaherty might be good candidates down the road as far as musical theater composers. I would love to see LaChiusa honored at some point but I fear his work is too obscure and it's not to a lot of people's taste.