Bruce Springsteen, a Kennedy Center honoree, with wife Patti Scialfa. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Jazz musician Dave Brubeck, a 2009 Kennedy Center honoree, on the red carpet. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Robert De Niro receives his Kennedy Center lifetime achievement award. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Mel Brooks shows off his Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Opera singer Grace Bumbry, an honoree at the 32nd Kennedy Center Honors. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
President Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House at an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
William Kennedy Smith, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Victoria Reggie Kennedy attend. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Melissa Etheridge on the red carpet. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Washington, DC, Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife, Michelle. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Former Defense Secretary and Sen. William Cohen and his wife, author Janet Langhart. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Actors Harvey Keitel and Daphna Kastner. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Harry Connick Jr. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Brian Williams, anchor of “NBC Nightly News.†(Kris Connor / Getty Images)
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and wife Amy Rule. (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)
Carl Reiner, longtime friend and associate of honoree Mel Brooks. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Roger Bart, who starred in Mel Brooks’ musical version of “Young Frankenstein.†(Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Actor Donald Sutherland. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Singer Aretha Franklin. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Actress Jane Krakowski. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Actor Richard Kind. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Peter Orszag, President Obama’s director of the office of management and budget. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
David Gregory, host of “Meet the Press,†and wife Beth Wilkinson. (Kris Connor / Getty Images)
Martin Scorsese, who has directed honoree Robert De Niro in several movies. (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)
Sting and wife Trudie Styler. (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)
Opera singer Denyse Graves. (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Ron Sachs / EPA)
“The Daily Show†host Jon Stewart with his wife, Tracy. Stewart spoke on behalf of Bruce Springsteen. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Actress Lynda Carter. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
“The View†co-host Barbara Walters and actor Frank Langella. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
Matthew Morrison of the TV show “Glee.†(Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul Pelosi. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Actor Matthew Broderick. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Singer Jennifer Nettles. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Actress Carol Burnett. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)
“CBS Evening News†anchor Katie Couric and date, Brooks Perlin. FOR THE RECORD: Couric’s date was earlier misidentified as her husband Jay Monahan, who passed away in 1998. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)
Actor Jack Black and wife Tanya Hayden. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)
Actor-director Ben Stiller. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)
Actress Sharon Stone and Raoul Mongilardi. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)
