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WASHINGTON - (The State Floor; Ladies and Gentlemen, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA): Please be seated. Thanks for coming, and
welcome to the White House. The annual reception for the Kennedy Center
Honors is always a memorable event, and Laura and I are happy you all
could join us. We extend a special welcome to this year's honorees, and to
their families and friends.
The Kennedy Center Honors are presented for exceptional accomplishment in
the performing arts. Once again, the Center has selected five
extraordinary Americans for this high distinction. Each of these honorees,
in a lifetime of achievement, has set a standard of excellence that is
admired throughout the world. All of them have earned a unique place in
the cultural life of the United States and a special respect among their
fellow Americans.
Tina Turner's life began in Tennessee in a town called Nutbush.
(Laughter.) I've never been there, but -- (laughter) -- I've passed a few
sign wavers who apparently want me to know about it. (Laughter.)
As a girl, she worked in the cotton fields and sang in the church choir.
In her amazing journey, Tina Turner went on to sell tens of millions of
records, and earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She's written music classics and a best-selling book. And a movie about
her life was nominated for two Oscars. As a performer, Tina Turner is
known to "transcend age, gender, race and social status." On one of
her tour stops in Texas, a concert reviewer described an audience that
included "college students and biker chicks wearing jeans and leather
vests, ten-gallon-hat-wearing cowboys, and finger-snapping grandpas."
(Laughter.) Everyone was there for the same reason -- to see one of the
greatest live entertainers ever to come out of the United States.
Tina Turner, it has been said, "commands the stage with the sheer force
of her full-throttle voice and magnetic presence." People stand in
wonder at the natural skill, the energy and sensuality, and the most
famous legs in show business. (Laughter.) Behave yourself. (Laughter.)
Her voice has been described as combining "Otis Redding's husky break and
James Brown's growl with some of Aretha Franklin's soaring cadences." She
moves better and faster than dancers less than half her age; she does it
all in four-inch high heels. (Laughter.)
She first became a star in the "Ike and Tina Turner Revue." She made music
history with a rendition of "Proud Mary" that no artist could ever hope to
match. It won the Grammy, and still wins her fans.
 In
the 1970s, the brave lady had to start over again, on her own. It was a
hard time. All she owned in the world was her stage name and her God-given
talent. These, combined with her persevering character, led to a
phenomenal solo career. A single album, "Private Dancer," sold more than
12 million copies, and the year it was released won her three Grammys.
She has produced a string of hits that are familiar across the
world, including "What's Love Got To Do With It?," and "Simply The Best."
She has played before some of the largest concert crowds ever assembled,
and each time every eye is trained on the stage, not wanting to miss a
single note or a single move by this electrifying artist.
There's nobody quite like Tina Turner, and in the arc of her life, there
is so much to admire -- the incredible musical gifts, the inner strength
and the moral courage. She's a woman of achievement, and elegance, and
class. And it's an honor to welcome you to the White House. (Applause.)
Each of these honorees has enriched our culture and reflected credit on
our great country. It's a true pleasure to be in their company, and to let
them know just how much they mean to the people of the United States.
Congratulations. Thanks for coming. (Applause.) |
