Watch President Obama Commend Eagles at Kennedy Center Honors
President Obama commended The Eagles, Mavis Staples, James Taylor, Al Pacino and pianist Martha Argerich at the 39th annual Kennedy Center Honors. “Their legacies are measured not just in terms of works of art but [also] the lives they’ve touched,” said Obama about the 2016 honorees.
“It’s a history-maker,” said Mavis Staples on the red carpet before the event. “And I thank the Lord, thank the Lord for them honoring me tonight.” Singer James Taylor said he relished the opportunity to sit in the audience for once: “I don’t really have to work,” he said. “I just have to sit down and drink it all in.”
During the ceremony, host Stephen Colbert cracked jokes about Al Pacino being a staple on college dorm room posters. He also drew some chuckles from the Eagles with a punchline about making out to their tunes “in the back of a Toyota Tercel.”
The Eagles were previously scheduled to receive their Honor last year, but they were forced to postpone due to late singer/guitarist Glenn Frey’s health issues. The Kennedy Center Honors airs December 27th at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.