♩ I'm gonna knock you out Mama said knock you out ♩
This is the hottest ticket in town a dazzling celebration showcasing the
extraordinary careers of five artists.
You can't top this.
A powerhouse lineup...
What a tremendous group of artists and individuals.
Tonight is like my family.
♩ Come on baby Say you love me ♩
Honoring the lifetime achievements of singer-songwriter superstar Gloria Estefan.
Really created a cultural legacy that no one really knew before her.
Legendary television producer Norman Lear
I love him, he's like a second father to me.
Without him I wouldn't be standing here today representing my
television show Blackish you know.
Renowned rapper LL Cool J
It's the most incredible thing to actually see that he was the one that was chosen to be the
first representative of our culture, to be honored.
The grande dame of American dance Carmen de Lavallade
To follow in her footsteps just means the world to me.
And megamusician Lionel Richie
Listening to the way he wrote songs and
performed them and now to be out here, it's pretty surreal.
This year marks the 40th anniversary for the Kennedy Center Honors, a night that's
become famous for big surprises.
Estefan, who is the most successful Latin
crossover artist in music history, and the first Cuban American to receive the
award, is thrilled with the heartfelt performance and blown away when her
daughter takes the stage.
I'm so emotional. I I really wanted to keep it
together so I wouldn't ugly cry on camera, but when my daughter came out...
so this has been one of the most magical nights.
For those of us who write and
create entertainment for a living,
Norman Lear is a hero.
At 95, Lear is the
oldest honoree to date.
Norman, I love you.
(LAUGHTER)
I love you too!
From All in the Family and
Good Times to One Day at a Time,
the television icon is recognized for his
art and activism.
I thought it was all fabulous, fabulous.
I loved the part that
was about me.
Grammy winner-turned-actor LL Cool J
is the first hip-hop artist to
don the rainbow ribbon medallion.
So I probably wouldn't be a rapper if it wasn't
for L, so thanks L!
And the youngest honoree ever.
I can't even articulate how
amazing it was
to just be able to join
this prestigious class, this club, it's amazing.
Now 86, de Lavallade has been
blazing trails and shattering barriers
all of her life.
She's given so much to the art form
and to me as a black woman.
With countless young dancers following in her footsteps.
It was like looking at myself,
it was amazing, it was so beautiful, and it was very touching.
The grand finale,
a biographical video tracking Richie's
start as founder of The Commodores
before a blockbuster solo career
♩ You are the sun You are the rain ♩
A star-studded tribute
♩ Say you Say me ♩
With a few fun facts from his daughter Nicole along the way.
He's honestly this happy all the time, I swear to God.
When he answers his phone,
he doesn't say hello,
he screams "Showtime!"
You know when you start thinking of what I'm joining
what this fraternity or sorority is
that I'm in, it's almost overwhelming to know that I'm
thought of in that light.
You can watch the ceremony on December 26 at 9 p.m.
8 central on CBS.
At the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.,
I'm Tara Mergener.