Kennedy Center Announces 2010 Honorees

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has named country singer-songwriter Merle Haggard; composer and lyricist Jerry Herman; dancer and choreographer Bill Jones; songwriter and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney; and television host and producer Oprah Winfrey as this year's honorees.

Each year, the Kennedy Center recognizes people who've made significant contributions to culture and arts. In a statement announcing the 2010 recipients, Chairman David M. Rubenstein said the 2010 recipients "have spent their lives enriching, inspiring, and elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world."

Rubenstein noted the "honesty" of Haggard's music, and the "inventive style and imaginative artistry" of Jones' work. Herman's work, he said, includes musicals that "rank him in the pantheon of Broadway's Golden Age." The chairman praised McCartney as "one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time," and Winfrey for creating "one of the most innovative careers in the entertainment world."

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the awards ceremony on December 5. It will be broadcast on CBS on December 28.