Giving Thanks for This Year’s Kennedy Center Honorees!
This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for our incredible 2018 Kennedy Center Honorees who continuously stretch the boundaries of what’s possible and pave the path for innovation in American culture.
Philip Glass
“I always knew what I wanted to do and I did it.”
Prolific composer Philip Glass has created a vast body of groundbreaking music for opera, orchestra, theater, dance, chamber ensemble, and film.
Glass has transformed our understanding of music and continues to be a leader of tapping into the unknown possibilities of musical composition.
“I don’t know what I’m doing and it’s the not knowing that makes it interesting.” — Philip Glass
Cher
“I’ve always taken risks and never worried about what the world might think of me.”
Known as the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher has earned the reputation as an unstoppable icon of popular culture in her decades-long career as a singer, actor, and advocate for women.
She breaks down barriers, challenges social norms, and inspires generations of women with her boldness and brilliance.
“I feel like a bumper car. If I hit a wall, I’m backing up and going in another direction. And I’ve hit plenty of walls in my career. But I’m not stopping. I think maybe that’s my best quality: I just don’t stop.” — Cher
Reba McEntire
“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.”
Singer-songwriter Reba McEntire has continuously topped music charts and won over the hearts of fans around the world with her powerful voice and unparalleled contributions to country music.
“I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved.” — Reba McEntire
Wayne Shorter
“To hell with the rules. I’m going for the unknown.”
Widely considered “jazz’s greatest living composer” (The New York Times), composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter is a pioneer of jazz improvisation and composition.
“The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this kind of risk, and courage is what we all need to create a better world.” — Wayne Shorter
Special Honors: Hamilton co-creators Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Alex Lacamoire
“To engender empathy and create a world using only words is the closest thing we have to magic.”―Lin-Manuel Miranda
Finally, we’re giving thanks for the the revolutionary work of Hamilton’s co-creators, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Alex Lacamoire. This team has left a profound mark on performance history with one of the most innovative and influential musicals of all time.
“ There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait.” — Hamilton
We can’t wait to celebrate all of our Honorees at the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 2. Tune in Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS for the full broadcast of the show.
