Kennedy Center Honors

President Bush, center, and first lady Laura Bush, third from right, stand with the Kennedy Center honorees in the Blue Room of the White House during a reception preceding the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. From left are singer Smokey Robinson, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, country singer Dolly Parton, film director Steven Spielberg and conductor Zubin Mehta.

Honoree Dolly Parton is photographed on the red carpet at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Parton, 60, is a Grammy-winner who has performed for more than four decades, and also has appeared in movies such as "Nine to Five" and "Steel Magnolias." She also operates a Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Singer Smokey Robinson, one of this year's honorees, arrives for the gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006. The 66-year-old singer-songwriter is best known for classics such as "The Tracks Of My Tears" and "I Second That Emotion." He is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Singer Aretha Franklin told the audience his songs "break down the barriers of black and white."

Honoree Zubin Mehta arrives for the gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006. Indian-born Mehta, 70, was music director of the New York Philharmonic from 1978 to 1991 and has led the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mehta was described by violinist Itzhak Perlman as "what we call in Yiddish a mensch," someone who is worthy and full of good deeds.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, one of this year's honorees, walks the red carpet with his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006. Spielberg, 58, has won two Academy Awards for best director, for "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." Among his other film are "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jaws," and the Indiana Jones series.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of this year's Kennedy Center honorees, arrives for the gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 3, 2006. London-born Webber, 58, is responsible for the music for "Cats," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Evita." He has won seven Tony Awards and three Grammy Awards.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush, second from right, with recipients of the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors in the balcony at the start of an evening gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington. The event will be broadcast Dec. 26 on CBS.

Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, stand for the national anthem while attending the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Among those on hand to pay tribute to the honorees were singers Jessica Simpson, Vince Gill and Kenny Rogers, and movie producer George Lucas.

Jessica Simpson poses at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Simpson later had an uncomfortable moment singing "Nine to Five" as part of the tribute to Dolly Parton, finishing the song abruptly with the words "so nervous" and quickly exiting, to no applause. She was in tears when she and the other singers came back out.

Singer Shania Twain poses at The 29th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Earlier in the evening, the honorees and performers dropped by the White House for a private reception with President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.

Actress Reese Witherspoon poses at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

Singer and actress Sarah Brightman arrives for the gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Dec. 3, 2006. Brightman paid tribute to ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber, saying, "At this very moment somewhere in the world, the curtain is going up on an Andrew Lloyd Webber show."

Recipients of the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors, director Steven Spielberg, left, and singer Dolly Parton sing the national anthem during the evening gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington.

President Bush, first lady Laura Bush, and recipient of the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors Smokey Robinson sing the national anthem during the evening gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington.

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, pose together at the 29th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006.

Singer Josh Groban poses at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington.

Actress Natasha Richardson and her husband, actor Liam Neeson, pose together at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington.

Country singers Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood pose together at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006.

Honoree Dolly Parton talks to the media at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington on Dec. 3, 2006. During the ceremony, country singer Reba McEntire told the audience Parton changed Nashville.

Members of the Kennedy family pose together at the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, in Washington. The center and the honors are named for the late President Kennedy. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., is second from right and his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., is at far left.