Kennedy Center Honors 2012

David Letterman attends the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

The Kennedy Center Honors recognized seven individuals - Buddy Guy, Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant - for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.

Kennedy Center Honorees comedian and late night talk show host David Letterman, left, actor Dustin Hoffman, second from the left, and Blues musician Buddy Guy, second from the right, listen while President Barack Obama speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

President Barack Obama, right, watches as comedian and late night talk show host David Letterman, second from the left, kisses fellow honoree ballerina Natalia Makarova's hand after an event with other honorees in the East Room of the White House Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Singer Aretha Franklin arrives for an event in the East Room of the White House Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Comedian David Letterman, left, and actor Dustin Hoffman attend the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

President Barack Obama shakes hands with actor Dustin Hoffman after delivering remarks at the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors attend a reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, center, attend the Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Kennedy Center honoree actor Dustin Hoffman arrives for an event in the East Room of the White House Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Kennedy Center honoree comedian and late night talk show host David Letterman arrives for an event in the East Room of the White House Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama arrive during an event in the East Room of the White House Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Naomi Watts, left, and Liev Schreiber arrive at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Actor Morgan Freeman arrives at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Julie Chen and Leslie Moonves arrive at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Actor Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower arrive at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

David Letterman poses for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Evelyn McGee-Colbert and Stephen Colbert pose for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber pose for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Hilaria Thomas and Alec Baldwin pose for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Dustin Hoffman poses for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Ray Romano poses for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney pose for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Tina Fey poses for photographers during the 35th Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington.

Musician and actor Lenny Kravitz arrives at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Dec. 2, 2012.

Musician Kid Rock and his mother, Susan Ritchie, left, arrive at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Musician Bonnie Raitt arrives at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Musician Dave Grohl, right, and his wife, Jordyn Blum, arrive at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Actress Glenn Close arrives at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Denyce Graves and husband, Robert Montgomery, arrive at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

Singer Aretha Franklin arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

Former Kennedy Center Honoree Yo-Yo Ma, his wife, Jill Horner, left, and daughter, Emily Ma, arrive at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

2012 Kennedy Center Honoree David Letterman and his wife, Regina, arrive at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

President Barack Obama, right, shakes hands with 2012 Kennedy Center Honors recipient actor and director Dustin Hoffman, center, during a reception hosted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama for the honorees in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Kennedy Center Honoree Buddy Guy arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Preformance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama leaves a reception in honor of the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 2, 2012.

Comedian Stephen Colbert and wife, Evelyn Colbert, arrive at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber arrive at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

From left, former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton join the 2012 Kennedy Center Honorees John Paul Jones, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Natalia Makarova, Robert Plant, Dustin Hoffman, and David Letterman for a group photo after the State Department Dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors gala, Dec. 1, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

Kennedy Center honoree Dustin Hoffman arrives with his wife, Lisa, at the Kennedy Center for the Preforming Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala, Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.

Singer Tracy Chapman arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Performance and Gala Dec. 2, 2012, at the State Department in Washington.