President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a reception this evening in the East Room for the 2009 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. The five honorees in the photo, above, are (from left) comedian/film director Mel Brooks, pianist/composer Dave Brubeck, opera pathbreaker Grace Bumbry, actor/director/restaurateur Robert DeNiro, and singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The group was gathered for the taping of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors tribute program, which took place at the Kennedy Center, and which will air on December 29th."On a day like this I remember, I'm the president, but he's the Boss," President Obama told the audience of 300 guests, as he paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
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baker's dozen of Hollywood acting giants were also guests at the White House and for the performance at the Kennedy Center, including Jack Black, Matthew Broderick, Martin Scorsese, Frank Langella, Edward Norton, Ben Stiller, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Jon Stewart, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joe Montagna, and Harvey Keitel. Singing superstar Sting and wife Trudi Styler were also on the guest list (above). In the photo below: In the President's Box at the Kennedy Center, President Obama waves as Mrs. Obama looks on. To her left in photo are Springsteen and Brooks. To the President's right is Vice President Joe Biden.
No Crashers were reported at the White House, or at the performance at the Kennedy Center.*Photos via Getty
