'Sesame Street,' Sally Field & Linda Ronstadt are among this year's recipients of the Kennedy...

[DonViejo]

‘Sesame Street,’ Sally Field and Linda Ronstadt are among this year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors

By Peggy McGlone July 18 at 12:00 PM

Weather aside, it will be a sunny day in December at the Kennedy Center Honors, when Big Bird, Elmo and the rest of “Sesame Street” make history as the first television program to receive the nation’s performing arts award.

Actress Sally Field, singer Linda Ronstadt and R&B band Earth Wind & Fire will also be recognized for their lifetime achievements, bringing a baby-boomer nostalgia to the occasion. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is the fifth honoree, a nod to the fine arts. The Dec. 8 production in the Opera House will be broadcast Dec. 15 on CBS.

The unusual selection of “Sesame Street” comes during its 50th-anniversary year, a great moment to celebrate the groundbreaking show, said Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter.

“They’re so universally loved,” Rutter said. “When we raised the possibility of it, there was such an overwhelming enthusiasm. It has touched so many people in so many ways.”

The winner of 189 Emmys and 11 Grammys, “Sesame Street” revolutionized the role of television in early-childhood education. The long-running series has attracted big-name guest artists ever since Carol Burnett appeared in the first episode in 1969. Dozens of Kennedy Center honorees — including Yo-Yo Ma, Lena Horne and Robert De Niro — have appeared as special guests or worked as collaborators on the show, a testament to its long-standing commitment to the arts.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/sesame-street-tops-2019-kennedy-center-honors-as-first-tv-show-to-receive-performing-arts-award/2019/07/17/48874810-a8c1-11e9-86dd-d7f0e60391e9_story.html

[irisblue]

1. Yo. For that ApricotHellbeast

[Ohiogal]

2. Great song selection!

Saw her perform live many years ago. She sounded so sweet, strong, and pure. It’s a tragedy that she cannot sing any more.