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Sneak peek at Sunday’s Kennedy Center Honors on CBS (Photos, Videos)

Jason Fraley | jfraley@wtop.com

June 3, 2021, 1:33 AM

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WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the Kennedy Center Honors (Part 1)

The Kennedy Center Honors will air as a two-hour special Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS.

The 43rd annual ceremony will honor veteran actor Dick Van Dyke, country star Garth Brooks, singer-songwriter Joan Baez, dancer and actress Debbie Allen and violinist Midori.

Each year brings surprise performances, including Heart saluting Led Zeppelin in 2012, Lady Gaga saluting Sting in 2014 or Aretha Franklin bringing down the house for Carole King in 2015.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s performances were recorded around the Kennedy Center campus, including the Front Plaza, Grand Foyer and Opera House.

WTOP got a sneak peek at Sunday’s broadcast with photos and videos below:

1/22

Kelly Clarkson performs for Garth Brooks. (YouTube)

2/22

Derek Hough and Laura Osnes perform for Dick Van Dyke. (YouTube)

3/22

Aaron Tveit performs for Dick Van Dyke. (YouTube)

4/22

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris perform for Joan Baez. (YouTube)

5/22

Yo-Yo Ma performs for Midori. (YouTube)

6/22

Vanessa Hudgens performs for Debbie Allen. (YouTube)

<p>This year&#8217;s honorees &#8212; Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Dick Van Dyke, Garth Brooks and Midori &#8212; pose at the Kennedy Center. (Michele Crowe/CBS)</p> 7/22
This year’s honorees — Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Dick Van Dyke, Garth Brooks and Midori — pose at the Kennedy Center. (Michele Crowe/CBS)

This year’s honorees — Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Dick Van Dyke, Garth Brooks and Midori — pose at the Kennedy Center. (Michele Crowe/CBS)

<p>Kelly Clarkson performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 8/22
Kelly Clarkson performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Kelly Clarkson performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Yo-Yo Ma performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 9/22
Yo-Yo Ma performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Yo-Yo Ma performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Dirk Powell and Rhiannon Giddens perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 10/22
Dirk Powell and Rhiannon Giddens perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Dirk Powell and Rhiannon Giddens perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Derek Hough and Laura Osnes perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 11/22
Derek Hough and Laura Osnes perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Derek Hough and Laura Osnes perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Gladys Knight performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 12/22
Gladys Knight performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Gladys Knight performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>James Taylor performs (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 13/22
James Taylor performs (Gail Schulman/CBS)

James Taylor performs (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Jimmie Allen performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 14/22
Jimmie Allen performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Jimmie Allen performs. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> 15/22
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris perform. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

<p>Pentatonix performs. (Michele Crowe/CBS)</p> 16/22
Pentatonix performs. (Michele Crowe/CBS)

Pentatonix performs. (Michele Crowe/CBS)

<p>Debbie Allen on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)</p> 17/22
Debbie Allen on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

Debbie Allen on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

<p>Dick Van Dyke on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)</p> 18/22
Dick Van Dyke on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)

Dick Van Dyke on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)

<p>Joan Baez on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)</p> 19/22
Joan Baez on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

Joan Baez on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

<p>Midori on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)</p> 20/22
Midori on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

Midori on the red carpet. (Scott Suchman)

<p>Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)</p> 21/22
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on the red carpet. (Tracey Salazar)

<p>The honorees wave from the balcony. (Gail Schulman/CBS)</p> <div class="wtop-audio" id="wtop-audio-642a0455a761485de1add13eaf7ef016" data-disable-preload="false"> <div class="wtop-audio-container "> <div class="wtop-audio__control"> <button class="wtop-audio__playToggle" role="button"> <span class="accessible-text">toggle audio on and off</span> <i class="fa fa-play" aria-hidden="true"></i> <i class="fa fa-pause" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--volume"> <i class="fa fa-volume-up wtop-audio__volume-level-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i> <label for="wtop-audio__volume-642a0455a761485de1add13eaf7ef016" class="accessible-text">change volume</label> <input class="wtop-audio__volume" id="wtop-audio__volume-642a0455a761485de1add13eaf7ef016" type="range" min="0" max="1" value="1" step="0.1"> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-wrapper"> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--wave"> <div class="wtop-audio-file" id="wtop-audio-642a0455a761485de1add13eaf7ef016-wave" data-mp3-url="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2-KEN-CEN-PREVIEW-jfray-2.mp3?_=2" data-next-mp3-url=""></div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio__control wtop-audio__control--download"> <a href="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2-KEN-CEN-PREVIEW-jfray-2.mp3?_=2" target="_blank" download> <span class="accessible-text">download audio</span> <i class="fa fa-download" aria-hidden="true"></i> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wtop-audio-captions"> WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the Kennedy Center Honors (Part 2)</div> <!-- Audio tracking --> <script type="text/javascript"> $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); </script> <!--// Audio tracking --> 22/22
The honorees wave from the balcony. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

The honorees wave from the balcony. (Gail Schulman/CBS)

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WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the Kennedy Center Honors (Part 2)
Jason Fraley

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

jfraley@wtop.com

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