How to watch the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors? Exact release date & time, guests, and more
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors took place on December 8, 2024, at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. The prestigious event, celebrating the best of American performing arts, was hosted by Queen Latifah. It aired on December 22, 2024, at 8:30 pm ET on the CBS network.
The award ceremony's recipients were announced in July 2024. In addition to the honorees, the event also celebrated the history of the Kennedy Center Honors, which first took place in 1978, by highlighting its enduring tradition of recognizing artistic excellence.
When and where to watch the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors?
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors premiered on CBS on December 22, 2024, at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT. Viewers without a cable service could stream the event live with Paramount+ with Showtime as it offered live access to their CBS affiliate.
Moreover, the award ceremony can be streamed the next day, December 23, 2024, by subscribing to the Paramount+ Essential plan, which costs $7.99 per month and $59.99 per year.
Below is the region-wise schedule of the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
Who was honored at the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors?
The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrated the remarkable contributions of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, musician Bonnie Raitt, jazz trumpeter and composer Arturo Sandoval, and the rock band Grateful Dead. Furthermore, the iconic Apollo Theater in New York City, built exactly 90 years ago in 1914, was also felicitated at the event. It marked the first time that a venue received the honor.
The Grateful Dead’s band members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir attended the award ceremony. The deceased members Phil Lesh and Jerry Garcia were represented by the former's son Grahame Lesh and the latter's daughter Trixie Garcia.
President Joe Biden, who attended the event with First Lady Jill Biden, paid homage to the night's honorees in his remarks. He praised the Grateful Dead, calling them "one of the most popular bands ever to be watched live in concert" and remarked that the band members were:
"Technical virtuosos fiercely dedicated to their craft. They fused decades and dozens of musical styles to create a whole new American sound. Experimental, innovative and brave."
Several Hollywood celebrities paid tributes to the recipients with heartfelt speeches and rousing musical performances. David Letterman shared fun anecdotes about the Grateful Dead.
The band was also honored with a string of performances from Sturgill Simpson, Dave Matthews, Kendrick Scott, Maggie Rogers, Terence Higgins, Jeff Chimenti, Rick Mitarotonda, and Leon Bridges, to name a few.
Rogers and Bridges came together to perform the 1970 folk song Friend of the Devil, while Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Dave Matthews jammed on the song Sugaree.
Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow delivered a beautiful rendition of I Can’t Make You Love Me in honor of Bonnie Raitt. Furthermore, James Taylor, Aronard McCuller, Jackson Browne, and Crow played her 1989 single, Nick of Time.
Coppola's fellow directors George Lucas and Martin Scorsese, along with actor Robert De Niro, reminded guests of his exemplary career and achievements. The comedian Dave Chappelle and singer-songwriter Raye took the stage to honor the legacy of the Apollo Theater.
Lastly, musician Trombone Shorty, Cimafunk, Chris Botti, and the Cuban pianist Chucho Valdez paid tribute to Arturo Sandoval.
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