Also receiving the prestigious honor is tv host Oprah Winfrey, country music legend Merle Haggard, choreographer/director Bill T. Jones and composer/lyricist Jerry Herman.
"The Kennedy Center celebrates five individuals who have spent their lives enriching, inspiring and elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world," said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. "The honesty of Merle Haggard’s music and poetic lyrics has helped to shape the world of country music for nearly five decades. Jerry Herman’s musicals rank him in the pantheon of Broadway’s Golden Age and will keep audiences humming along for generations to come. The inventive style and imaginative artistry of Bill T. Jones has had an invaluable impact on the varied landscapes of dance and theater. Sir Paul McCartney is one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time, whose work has continuously altered both the creation and perception of music all over the world. For more than 25 years, Oprah Winfrey has established one of the most innovative careers in the entertainment world, with distinctive accomplishments in television and film."
The 33rd annual event takes place December 5 in Washington; it will air as a prime-time special on CBS on December 28.
Earlier this year, McCartney picked up the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, followed by a tribute and performance at The White House in early June.
Paul McCartney - Hey Jude (Live at CitiField, NYC) - Good Evening New York City Paul McCartney & Guests – Hey Jude
“In Performance At The White House”
The White House – Washington, D.C. – June 2, 2010
