Mitchell’s tribute featured performances of her songs by Nora Jones, Brandi Carlile, Ellie Goulding and Brittany Howard. The tributes featured testimonials and performances that were kept secret from the honorees. The theater was packed to capacity and there were no social distancing restrictions, but vaccinations and recent negative COVID tests were required for all who attended. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed the national anthem and encouraged the audience to sing the final lines together. The Bidens drew a sustained standing ovation when they entered the presidential box at the opera house.

Last year, the pandemic forced a delay and major changes to the program.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump skipped the show the first three years he was in office after several of the artists honored in 2017, his first year in office, threatened to boycott a White House reception if he participated. This year’s event at the Kennedy Center’s main opera house represented a return to political normalcy, with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attending. The lifetime achievement awards for artistic excellence were presented to Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell. WASHINGTON - The Kennedy Center Honors returned to tradition this year with a real-life gala Sunday night and the presence of the president for the first time since 2016. Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.

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