The five recipients of the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors – Tom Hanks, Sting, Al Green, Patricia McBride and Lily Tomlin – who were presented with their medallions last night at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry
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5:0: The President delivers remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception, White House
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Wait….. Al Green, you say?
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7:15: The President and First Lady attend the Kennedy Center Honors, Kennedy Center
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The gala will be broadcast on CBS on December 30 at 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT.
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2009
2009 Recipients: Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Springsteen
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2010
2010 recipients: Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman, Bill T Jones, Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey
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2011
2011 recipients: Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep
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2012
2012 recipients: Buddy Guy, Dustin Hoffman, Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant), David Letterman and Natalia Makarova
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2013
2013 recipients: Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel ( 🙄 ), Shirley MacLaine and Carlos Santana
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The Obama Diary 
Billy Joel! Chips’ most memorable moment of them all! 🙂
Hopefruit, I was really tempted to do this:
But I feared I’d lose friends 😕
Now, now. Behave:)
I will. Promise. Ish.
Ham. . .
😉
Heh! 🙂 I must ask LL to do a Billy Joel Night Owl
// ducks and runs…
You ain’t running fast enuff, girl!
Am I banned yet?! AMK! help..
I’m begging, pleading..groveling for your forgiveness…
You did start the fire, tho, Hopefruit 🙄
LOL! I see what you did there.
🙂
Great song! 😀
Bad girl! [Funny, but bad girl!] 🙂
But I was REALLY restrained, Dudette!1!1!
I see you!
*****Cough******
😉
Good Evening TODville Community.
Congrats to all the Gold ⭐ winners……starting with this fine post and several back
Good Sunday morning fro SoCal Chips and TOD. Really nice collection of photos Chips.
“from”.
Good morning to ya COS!
1941, Dec 7th.
Not being a fashiony person, it’s impossible to figure out in which photo the First Lady looked more stunning – torn between the blue and green dresses 🙂
Green? ? ?
Haven’t we discussed this before? ? ?
Running with HopeFruit. . .
That’s like asking “Which sunset is more beautiful than the last.” It is a futile exercise. Just marvel at the splendor. 🙂
😆 Will do!
My two cents — the Tropical Teal is my favorite — which is saying a lot, since I adore the gorgeous silks and luminous prints that FLOTUS has worn.
The flow and the bodice details of the teal is my fav.
Happy Sunday, TODville.
Chips – Hi, there, darlin’. These are just the kind of magnificent images we need right about now! Thank you.
{{{Jacqueliiiiiiine}}}
Musical genius and not too hard on the eyes either:) WAAAAAY better than BJ!
Coolest cool dude wrapped in hawt hawtness!
Amen, sister! 🙂
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/07/obama-bet-interview_n_6283656.html
Obama: “America’s ‘Deeply Rooted’ Racism Will Take Time To Tackle”
Truer words couldn’t be spoken.
Well, I’d just like to say that our wonderful associate minister, Lori, tackled this racism in her sermon today. She was magnificent. Also, one of the laypeople who spoke, also tackled this situation. They also did not let the “progressive” wing of the Protestants off the hook…of which we are one part, and also white people who have the obligation to initiate the healing. And yes, we are a predominantly white congregation. What she preached today, needed to be heard in every church in America. It was that good!
I believe, as I have for six years now, that the election of PBO lanced the racist boil on the body politic, but I think that the events of the last months with the police killings of unarmed black men, and the publicity and reaction they have received, is the first tiny step in recovery. This will take time, as the President says, but it is doable. First step should be Bob’s suggested Truth and Reconciliation.
Sarah Slamen is on another righteous rant. I won’t post more than one of her tweets, and I don’t know enough about Houston to know what’s going on, but good for her for at least keeping the discussion going. You’d have to read all of her tweeted rant to get the connections she makes. Here’s what kicked it off:
Argghhh.
Where have they been since Jan 21st, 2009?
Yep, the Day the Press Stood Still/Mute?
Stephen Colbert’s appearance at the WHCD in 2006 (IIRC) opened my eyes to MSM blackouts.
I couldn’t get over his deft, well-deserved skewering of clueless GWB.
The next day, not a peep about about Colbert on the newsites I visited — they had articles about the dinner, but no mention of Colbert — I thought I had dreamed his performance.
Colbert is a comedic savant. MSM is woefully pathetic.
Totally agree with both your statements.
And Colbert has a good heart. He is a Pope Francis type of Catholic. The fact that the First Lady had him seated next to her at the French state dinner is significant. He was sooo honored, you could tell. When FLOTUS was campaigning for Braley and kept calling him Bailey, Stephen did a piece on it, but at the end he broke character and almost sheepishly looked into the camera saying, “You know I love you, Ma’am.”
Yay! Stephen and PBO on Monday and then the Kennedy Honors with PBO, FLOTUS and Colbert hosting; I am in holiday heaven!
Oh Chips, those photos bring such a smile to me and warmth in my heart. I am so grateful to this couple. Their strength and their love is getting stronger thru all this adversity. So thankful to be here with them. Do we get to see any of this tonight maybe at the Kennedy Center website. I can’t wait until the 30th to see the show.
Is this John Kerry on front row, second from left? 🙂
It is indeed. His wife is on the other end of the row.
From the article:
Bruce Springsteen, who offered a toast for Sting at a State Department dinner Saturday, said the breadth and depth of Sting’s talents are intimidating as he crosses from folk music to jazz, classical, pop, rock and reggae. On Tuesday, Sting will join the Broadway cast “The Last Ship” in his musical about his hometown.
“Sting makes me feel like a musical Neanderthal. When we get together, we always have the same argument. He insists that there are more than three chords, while I insist that there are not,” Springsteen said. “In an age of musical homogenization, no one has ever sounded or sang like my friend.”
Sting, 63, told The Associated Press he was bewildered by the honor.
“You know, for an Englishman to receive this reward, it’s not unique, but it’s rare, and I take that pretty seriously,” he said. “To come to this country in 1978 with no prospects at all and then to end up here with the secretary of state, it’s quite a journey. So I don’t take it for granted.”
I hope we get a pic or two of our First Couple. I know we won’t get to really see them and the performances in full until Dec 30th, but I’m keeping hope alive for at least pic tonight 🙂
The guy has The Love……..Those pearly white enamel. Gorgeous.
What a glorious parade of images from present KCH galas and past as well. I can never see enough pictures of the splendidly beautiful, elegant, spirited and radiant FLOTUS. She shines with loveliness, joy and generosity in every outfit, on every occasion, in the company of pre-schoolers, teens, grieving parents, uniformed members of our armed services, and potentates. You can’t fake what she shows us; we see her too often in too many settings for anything false to pass by. She is a great, good soul and I cannot believe how lucky we are and how powerfully she communicates deep good important truths to the world, by showing up as her. And I love her in the blue dress, until I see other dresses and I waffle, but that blue dress: DANG!
THIS! Regarding the dresses–the blue and the purple. Love both.
Thanks, Chips! Now I have plenty of time to get out my best attire and plenty of possible ideas from our super ‘model’.
I’ve been inspired by FLOTUS’s green dress VC, so I’m all set:
LOL! 😀
Wasn’t that your wedding after-dress?
Please don’t bring up painful memories, VC #DamnYouJapa
OMG! I bet Danny would have so much fun playing with that!
And I’d be left covered in burst balloons, Soph!!!
With Dannystixs you think..no wish…there’d be something left. You’d be standing there in your green gGrannie panties. 🙂 🙂 🙂
😆 I’d be lucky to even be left with Grannie panties, JoJo!
Wow Chips. Who has the pin. Itsn’t that alittle dangerous around Danny.
😆 Can you imagine Marilyn? Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop…… repeat to fade!
I was told that was a one-of-a-kind ORIGINAL. Off to make a phone call.
It IS Jacqueline, it’s the SAME one! Because unohoo didn’t show up I never got to wear it!1!
Well, tonight’s the night 😎
heheheheheheheheehe
Go ahead Chips. I am sure you will look… uhm… you will look….ahhhh
oh I know… I am sure you will look like something. 😀
Love John Legend!
❤ + ❤ + ❤ = ❤
Oh cool! Love this group!
Dudette, congrats on your nephew becoming a fine musician! I read your post about it from a few days ago too late to comment. Clarinet was it? My uncle gave me a flute when I was in elementary school and I love learning to play it. I kept that flute until recently, even though I didn’t stick with playing it. It meant a lot to me. You are a wonderful aunt!
Oops! Loved learning to play it. Gave it too charity a few years ago. I will never forget my uncle for giving me that flute though!
me too Dudette. My kids turned me on to them.
Afternoon, TODers!
Jumping back in after working a couple of long days and I haven’t caught up completely, but did anyone post/see/comment on that Ready for Hillary YouTube with the country singer guy? OMG it is awful! She will NOT be the nominee. They haven’t learned anything from the Grimes campaign.
A friend sent it to me this a.m. and said that said that she doesn’t think she can vote for her after seeing the YouTube (she is a ride or die HRC fan… or at least she was before this). If she hadn’t told me it was real I would have thought it was a parody from the Onion or SNL.
I hesitate to post it here but I will if you guys want to see it, I will. It is a complete train wreck!
If I am ever blessed to have a head full of grey hair, I want it to look FABULOUS, just like Grace Bumbry!! WOW!! She looks absolutely fabulous!! Seated in front of Bobby DeNiro, who has always appreciated the beauty of black women! (Yes, I know it may be a wig, but I don’t care, she is ROCKIN’ her years with grace and style.)
Good afternoon, TOD. Once again in drive-by mode. Have a Blessed evening!
Sorry, that is 2013; meant to post 2014:
Oh Alycee, thank you for the new one. These always bring tears to my eyes. They are so beautiful. I wish I could go and hear them live.
Heads up:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/07/the-president-delivers-remarks-at-the-kennedy-center-honors-reception/
bbl – Off to hear my budding young clarinet prodigy in his first recital! Joy, Joy, JOY!!! 😀
Dudette, did you see my reply re your clarinet prodigy above under the Pentatonix tweet?
Hi MS, just saw it! Thank you for your kind words. I gave up playing both the violin and the organ as a kid, but I’m immensely grateful that the experience I had gave me such an appreciation for music and musicians. If I do nothing else in life, sharing the joy of music with my sweet nephew feels like at least one mission in my life has been accomplished. 🙂
Just found out here about PBO’s sore throat and acid reflux diagnosis. I wouldn’t worry about it being anything more serious; PBO has the best care and they would find it if there was something more. Also, if they had found something and they wanted to keep it a secret, we would not hear about his sore throat at all.
From an energetic standpoint, the throat chakra symbolizes communication and the solar plexus area (upper digestive system) can represent anger. I think that if PBO has acid reflux it is because he has to suppress his true feelings so much in his role as President and statesman. All of the BS we’ve seen over the last few years from the MSM, Congress, etc. as well as the recent grand jury travesties – he feels like we do about these things but his public statements must be as President of the United States, not as Barack the man. I think the stress from repeated stifling of his true feelings over these past years has manifested physically. His anger is physically “coming back up” after being pushed down by necessity because of his role as President.
As I always do, imaging white protective light and now lavender healing light around our PBO.
As I always do, imaging white protective light and now lavender healing light around our PBO.
*************************
AMEN
I agree with you Madame, he isn’t looking very happy at the moment and his stress level must be very high I am sure. My son is suffering of the same thing with a lot of past stress and dealing with acid reflux. Our son has went through a mixture of stress in his work plus trying to eliminate his tobacco chew use in the last year replacing it with nicotine tablets as well as nicotine gum. Perhaps PBO has been using the gum to much or even tablets and its affecting his stomach now creating the acid reflux, along with stress. What actually worked for our son was the nicotine patch in the end.
Ahhh! Yes, I had forgotten that he chews Nicorette. I quit smoking in 2002 (briefly picking it back up after Bush was re-elected in 2004 🙂 ) and Nicorette totally helped me get off smoking. I chewed it for awhile and eventually one day I just didn’t buy any more. That would be hard on the stomach, especially if there is stress on top of that. My prayers are that, whatever he needs to do to keep sane and do his job, he will be protected. I can’t imagine doing what he does and doing it so brilliantly.
He is going to be fine and I’m sure his doctor has told him. Smoking is different than digesting nicorette tablets and nicorette gum, and also a spray under the tongue, or chew, this goes strait to the stomach, Its a real hard habit to give up but should never be discussed with the media on CNN when this President is doing a fantastic job.
Thank you ao much for this. And I’m with your imaging.
Just watched PBO’s comments at the KHC reception. He was so cute and funny; looked like he was really enjoying himself.