Kennedy Center Honors 2016

The longest, loudest standing ovation of the Kennedy Center Honors gala wasn’t reserved for Al Pacino, Mavis Staples or the Eagles. Instead, it went to the man sitting to their left, attending his eighth and most likely his last honors presentation: President Barack Obama.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama were introduced last, after Pacino and his fellow honorees: gospel singer Staples; pianist Martha Argerich; singer-songwriter James Taylor; and Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh, the surviving members of the Eagles.

Don Henley

2016 Kennedy Center Honoree, musician Don Henley, listens during a reception for fellow honorees at the White House on December 4, 2016 in Washington, DC. 

Kevin Spacey and Nancy Pelosi

Kevin Spacey and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Joe Walsh

2016 Kennedy Center Honoree, musician Joe Walsh, listens during a reception with fellow honorees at the White House on December 4, 2016 in Washington, DC. 

Faye Dunaway

Actress Faye Dunaway attends a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples.

Al Pacino and Mavis Stpales

Actor Al Pacino, and singer Mavis Staples listen to President Barack Obama speak during a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. 

Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne

Actors Kevin Spacey (R) and Laurence Fishburne attend a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

President Obama

US President Barack Obama speaks during a reception for the 2016 Kennedy Center Honorees at the White House in Washington DC, December 4, 2016.  

Kevin Spacey and Nancy Pelosi

Actor Kevin Spacey and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Al Pacino

2016 Kennedy Center Honoree actor Al Pacino waves at the beginning of the show during the Kennedy Center Honors December 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.  

The Obamas

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend the Kennedy Center Honors show December 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The honorees include the band The Eagles, singer Mavis Staples, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor and pianist Martha Argerich. 

Kennedy Center Honors

President Barack Obama jokes with the band members of the group Eagles (L-R) Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh during a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees also include actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Kennedy Center Honors

(L-R) The 2016 Kennedy Center Honorees: pianist Martha Argerich; screen and stage actor Al Pacino: gospel and blues singer Mavis Staples; musician James Taylor; members of the Eagles: Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh participate in a reception at The White House, December 4, 2016. 

Kevin Spacey and Nancy Pelosi

Actor Kevin Spacey and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) attend a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Mavis Staples

2016 Kennedy Center honoree Mavis Staples stands at the beginning of the show during the Kennedy Center Honors December 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The honorees also include the band The Eagles, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor and pianist Martha Argerich.

James Taylor

2016 Kennedy Center honoree singer James Taylor stands next to honoree Mavis Staples (R) at the beginning of the show during the Kennedy Center Honors December 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The honorees also include the band The Eagles, singer Mavis Staples, actor Al Pacino and pianist Martha Argerich.

Kennedy Center Honors

President Barack Obama speaks during a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Jeff Goldblum and Laurence Fishburne

Actors Jeff Goldblum (L) and Laurence Fishburne attend a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Aretha Franklin

Singer Aretha Franklin attends a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples.  

James Taylor and Don Henley

Singer James Taylor and Eagles band member Don Henley listen to President Barack Obama speak during a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees also include actor Al Pacino, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Garth Brooks

Singer Garth Brooks attends a ceremony for the 2016 Kennedy Center honorees December 4, 2016 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The honorees include Eagles band members, actor Al Pacino, singer James Taylor, pianist Martha Argerich and singer Mavis Staples. 

Martha Argerich

2016 Kennedy Center Honoree pianist Martha Argerich waves at the beginning of the show during the Kennedy Center Honors December 4, 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The honorees also include the band The Eagles, singer Mavis Staples, actor Al Pacino and singer James Taylor.