The Eagles have been named as one of the recipients of the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.
The band will be inducted at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors event in Washington, DC in December alongside fellow honorees singer-songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno, conductor Seiji Ozawa and actress and Broadway star Cicely Tyson.
The Honors recipients are recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts – whether in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures or television – and are selected by the Center’s Board of Trustees.
"We are deeply grateful to have been named a Kennedy Center honoree,” says the band. “The members of the Eagles hail from different regions of this great nation and we feel very fortunate that our music has been embraced by people from all walks of life, all over the world.
“Popular music is one of America's greatest exports – a bridge that spans geographical and cultural boundaries. We are truly humbled to have been able to be a part of this global connection. Many thanks to our fans, our fellow artists and the Kennedy Center for this recognition.”
The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. With few lineup changes, the group went on to become one of the world's best-selling bands of all time with more than 150 million records sold.
The Eagles are the best-selling American band in US history with more than 100 million sales in the States alone. Two of their albums make up 75% of their US sales: “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)” has moved 42 million units and 1976’s “Hotel California” has sold 32 million in their home country.
The President and Mrs. Obama will receive the Honorees, members of the Artists Committee who nominate them, and the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees at the White House prior to a gala performance taping on December 6.
The Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on the CBS Network on Tuesday, December 29 at 9:00 p.m.
The Eagles are currently playing shows across the US on their “History Of The Eagles” tour in support of the band’s 2013 documentary of the same name.
See also:
The Eagles announce US tour dates
Don Henley responds to Robert Plant’s comments regarding Eagles reunion
The Eagles announce new US tour dates
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Search The Eagles at hennemusic
