The recipients of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors have been announced, with performing artists recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture.

The list of honorees include actor and filmmaker George Clooney; contemporary Christian and pop singer Amy Grant; venerable gospel, soul and R&B star Gladys Knight; Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, conductor and educator Tania León; and four Irish musicians you may know best as the rock band U2.

In a statement, bandmates Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. said they consider America a home away from home:  “In December 1980, we made our first trip across the Atlantic to America. We had big dreams then, fueled in part by the commonly held belief at home that America smiles on Ireland. And it turned out to be true, yet again. But even in the wilder thoughts, we never imagined that 40 years on, we would be invited back to receive one of the nation’s greatest honors. It has been a four-decade love affair with the country and its people, its artists, and culture.”

The Honors are designed to raise money for the Kennedy Center as well as recognize talent. The annual ceremony is slated for Dec. 4, to be broadcast later on CBS and streamed on Paramount +.

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