Recital of the Irish group U2 in La Plata, 2017.
Kennedy Center Cultural Center, based in the US capital Washington DC, has announced U2 and George Clooney on the list of winners of its annual award, which is one of the most prestigious art awards in the United States.
This year’s winners will also be the legend of the soul Gladys Knightthe composer born in Cuba Tanya Leon and the Christian pop artist Amy Grant.
George Clooney at the London Film Festival, 2021. Photo: AP
The Kennedy Center’s annual gala will be held on December 4. Last year’s edition was attended by President Joe Biden. Instead Donald Trump never attended the big cultural event during the four years of his administration, as in his first year of management there were several honored artists who threatened to boycott the gala if he was present.
all very grateful
In a statement, George Clooney said, “Growing up in a small Kentucky town I never imagined that one day I would sit on the balcony of the Kennedy Center Honors. To be able to do it with these amazing artists is an honor.”
Singer Gladys Knight during the intermission of an NBA game in 2012. Photo: EFE.
Cavaliere, interpreter of classic pieces such as Midnight train to Georgiahe said in turn that he feels “honored beyond words to be included in this prestigious group of people, both past and present. The Kennedy Center’s commitment to the arts is unmatched and I am very grateful for this moment.”
U2 group, learned they were honored, also released a statement: “As kids we had big dreams, fueled in part by the common belief at home that America smiles on Ireland. And it turned out to be true, once again. But even in our wildest thoughts, we never imagined that 40 years later we would be invited to receive one of the nation’s highest honors. The United States is a home away from home for us. “
the anecdote
Bono at the launch of the Scholas Occurrentes International Movement, in Rome, May of this year. Photo: EFE
Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter commented on U2’s reaction to the news. She said when she was told Bono she was eating and dropped her fork when she found out that his band of hers had been selected for the prize. And that it took a while to get his teammates (The Edge, Adam and Larry) to attend the event, as they weren’t in the same place together.
The Kennedy Center usually honors five people a year for influencing American culture through the arts, but also sometimes recognizes the impact of bands and other groups (Bruce Springsteen, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Eagles, and Led Zeppelin) .
The gala will be recorded by the CBS television network and will be broadcast at a later date, again without notice.
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Source: Clarin