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WASHINGTON - The Tina Turner who showed up at the White House
yesterday was subdued in comparison with the performer who has been
electrifying concert stages since the 1960s.
Still, she lit up a reception celebrating her and the four other
recipients of this year's Kennedy Center honors -- Robert Redford, Tony
Bennett, Suzanne Farrell and Julie Harris.
"I'm very excited," Turner told reporters.
President Bush drew some laughs when he noted of Turner, "People stand in
wonder at the natural skill, the energy and sensuality, and the most
famous legs in show business." Bush called Turner "one of the
greatest live entertainers ever to come out of the United States."
In honor of Turner, Queen Latifah sang "What's Love Got to Do With It,"
Melissa Etheridge sang "River Deep, Mountain High" and Beyonce Knowles
performed "Proud Mary." Oprah Winfrey called herself "Tina's biggest
known groupie" and spoke of seeing Turner perform live, advising the
star-studded audience at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, "Add that to the list of things you do before you die."
 The legendary performers joined the president and first lady Laura Bush at
the White House yesterday afternoon.
"Each of these honorees, in a lifetime of achievement, has set a standard
of excellence that is admired throughout the world," the president said.
They are:
• Turner, 66, who has earned seven Grammy awards for hits such as Proud
Mary, What's Love Got to Do With It and Better Be Good to Me.
• Redford, 68, who has starred in dozens of films, including Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were, The Natural and Out of Africa. He
also created the Sundance Institute to foster independent filmmaking.
• Bennett, 79, who is best known for songs such as I Left My Heart in San
Francisco and The Best Is Yet to Come. He has won 11 Grammy's, and in
recent years has enjoyed success with a younger audience.
• Farrell, 60, who was the lead dancer in such performances as Meditation
and The Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine at the New York
City Ballet. Balanchine created his full-length Don Quixote for her; he
considered her his muse. Farrell is now an instructor.
• Harris, 80, has had a long acting career on stage and screen, winning a
record six Tony awards. Her films include The Member of the Wedding, East
of Eden and Reflections in a Golden Eye. She is noted for her one-woman
stage performance as Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst.
Later yesterday, artists from around the world gathered at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to pay tribute to the honorees.
The Kennedy Center Honors will be broadcast Dec. 27 on CBS. |
