Kennedy Center Gala Honors Best In Arts -- And George H.W. Bush

Hollywood A-listers and Washington politicos celebrated the best in performing arts Sunday at the Kennedy Center Honors gala, which opened with a standing ovation for late president George H.W. Bush.

Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Dec, 2018 ) :Hollywood A-listers and Washington politicos celebrated the best in performing arts Sunday at the Kennedy Center Honors gala, which opened with a standing ovation for late president George H.W. Bush.

The posh annual awards program -- a rare night of red-carpet glamour in the US capital, now in its 41st year -- honored an eclectic class of artists: actress and pop superstar Cher, radical composer Philip Glass, country singer Reba McEntire and Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

In a first, the Kennedy Center -- the performing arts complex that serves as a living monument to slain president John F.

Kennedy -- also paid tribute to a work of art, the musical sensation "Hamilton."Show host Gloria Estefan, a member of last year's class of honorees, opened the festivities with a somber tribute to Bush, who died over the weekend at age 94.

"I think it's appropriate to recognize the passing of a wonderful man who dedicated his life to service and who graciously attended this event many times during his administration, laughing, applauding, singing along and even shedding a tear from right up there in the presidential box," said the pop diva.