Sting, Tom Hanks among Kennedy Center honorees

FILE - This May 13, 2011 file photo shows singer Al Green performing in Memphis, Tenn. It’s a rare honor for an artist to receive accolades from the president, let alone have him sing one of your tunes. Now Al Green can claim both, knowing that President Barack Obama is already a fan. Green is among five leading artists receiving this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, the highest national awards for influencing American culture through the arts. Green joins Tom Hanks, Sting, Lily Tomlin and ballerina Patricia McBride as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the selections Thursday. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File) FILE - This May 13, 2011 file photo shows singer Al Green performing in Memphis, Tenn. It’s a rare honor for an artist to receive accolades from the president, let alone have him sing one of your tunes. Now Al Green can claim both, knowing that President Barack Obama is already a fan. Green is among five leading artists receiving this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, the highest national awards for influencing American culture through the arts. Green joins Tom Hanks, Sting, Lily Tomlin and ballerina Patricia McBride as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the selections Thursday. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

By Associated Press September 4, 2014 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – It’s a rare honor for an artist to receive accolades from the president, let alone have him sing one of your tunes.

Now Al Green can claim both, knowing that President Barack Obama is a fan. Green is among five artists receiving this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, the national awards for influencing American culture through the arts, the center announced Thursday.

Tom Hanks, Sting, Lily Tomlin and ballerina Patricia McBride will also receive the honor. They will be saluted by top entertainers in a performance Dec. 7 and a reception at the White House. The show will be broadcast Dec. 30 on CBS.

A look at this year’s honorees:

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