U2, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant Among Upcoming Kennedy Center Honorees

U2, singers Gladys Knight and Amy Grant, composer-conductor Tania León, and actor and director George Clooney, are set to be honored at the 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors at the National Arts Center in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 4.

The 2022 honorees represent the best of the entertainment world, who have used their talents to inspire change, said Deborah Rutter, president of The Kennedy Center in a statement. “In each case, these are artists who are doing more than being performers,” added Rutter. “They are artists as citizens who are giving back and making the world a better place through art. It’s about art for life’s sake. These artists are a mirror to who we are.”

The Honors Gala will be recorded and broadcast on CBS at a later date as a two-hour primetime special, and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Knight, 78, who performed a rendition of Garth Brook’s 1992 song “We Shall Be Free” during the 2021 tribute to the country singer, said she is humbled by her forthcoming honor. “You could never have told me as a young girl starting my career that I would be honored on a stage such as this, with artists and humanitarians such as these—it just wouldn’t have seemed possible,” said Knight in a statement. “It would have been the dream of all dreams. I have been blessed with so much in my life and this certainly stands with those achievements at the top of that list.” She added, “I stand here with my fans, my family, my friends, my team, and my faith in accepting such an amazing distinction. It is dedicated to all those who paved the path for me to be able to accomplish the wonderful blessings I’ve been able to receive.”

The selection process for honorees includes recommendations from former honorees, the artistic community, the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and the general public. This year, honorees were chosen based on the recommendation of the Kennedy Center Special Honors Advisory Committee, chaired by David Bohnett, along with past recipients and artists, including Julie Andrews, Gloria Estefan, Herbie Hancock, Judith Jamison, Lionel Richie, and John Williams.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine ever receiving this prestigious Kennedy Center Honors,” said honoree Amy Grant in a statement. “Through the years, I’ve watched so many of my heroes serenaded by colleagues and fellow artists, always moved by the ability of music and film to bring us together and to see the best in each other. I cannot wait to celebrate with my fellow honorees, friends, and family. Thank you for widening the circle to include all of us.”

Of their honor, U2’s Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., added:

“In December 1980, we made our first trip across the Atlantic to America. Our first show was at The Ritz in New York City, the second, The Bayou in D.C. We had big dreams then, fueled in part by the commonly held belief at home that America smiles on Ireland. And it turned out to be true, yet again. But even in the wilder thoughts, we never imagined that 40 years on, we would be invited back to receive one of the nation’s greatest honors. It has been a four-decade love affair with the country and its people, its artists, and culture. We consider America to be a home away from home and we are very grateful to the Kennedy Center Honors for welcoming us into this great clan of extraordinary artists.”

Photo: Gladys Knight (Derek Blanks); U2 (Olaf Heine) / Courtesy of The Kennedy Center