Paul McCartney To Recieve 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honour

America to Celebrate the Careers of Extraordinary Artists Sunday 5th December, 2010

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced that Paul McCartney has been selected to receive an annual Kennedy Center Honour this year.

Each year the prestigious Honours, now in their 33rd year, are awarded to five special recipients for their lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts. Previous recipients include, Robert De Niro, Brian Wilson, Steven Spielberg and Bob Dylan.

On selecting Paul for this highly prestigious award, Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein said, Sir Paul McCartney is one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time, whose work has continuously altered both the creation and perception of music all over the world.

The annual Honours Gala will take place on Sunday December 5th in a star-studded celebration at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington. The honourees will be received by the President of the United States and Mrs Obama at a reception at the White House prior to the Honours Gala. The honourees and The President will then move to the Opera House to take their seats. The Gala will see the 2010 honourees watch surprise performances and receive heartfelt tributes by world-class performers and superstars, yet to be announced.

Prior to the event The Kennedy Center Honours medallions will be presented on Saturday 4th December, the night before the gala, at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Speaking about receiving this special honour Paul said, “President Kennedy was such an icon for us in the sixties and his presidency was so inspiring for so many people that it is a great pleasure for this kid from Liverpool to receive this honour.

Paul is certainly no stranger to The White House, he visited there earlier this year in June when he was awarded with The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. That, now legendary, evening included performances by Paul himself as well as a cast of household names including Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl and the Jonas Brothers.

The Honours Gala will be broadcast in the US on CBS.