Washington – From Hollywood to Dollywood, Motown to Broadway, a select group of stars from the film, stage and music worlds received recognition Sunday for a lifetime of achievement in the performing arts.
Movie director Stephen Spielberg, singers Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and conductor Zubin Mehta were invited to the White House for a reception as members of the 29th class of Kennedy Center honorees.
Later, at an evening gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, fellow entertainers and artists celebrated the careers of the honorees.
This year’s honorees are:
Spielberg, 58. He won two Academy Awards for best director for “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.”
Parton, 60. The country singer, who also owns the Dollywood theme park, has performed for more than four decades.
Robinson, 66. The Motown legend is best known for classics such as “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Tears of a Clown.”
Webber, 58. The London- born composer is responsible for the music of “Cats,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Evita.”
Mehta, 70. The Indian- born conductor was music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1978 to 1991 and has led the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
