Kennedy Center Honors Photo Gallery: George Clooney, Gladys Knight, U2, Julia Roberts and more stars attend the gala

The 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors were held in Washington DC, where honorees were recognized for their artistic achievements.

This year’s honorees were actor and filmmaker George Clooney, contemporary Christian pop singer and songwriter Amy Grant, soul, gospel, R&B and pop singer Gladys Knight, Cuban-born American composer, conductor and educator Tania León and Irish rock group U2. consisting of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.

The star-studded event was attended by other celebrities and political figures. Some of the guests included Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Ariana DeBose, Big Bird, Sheryl Crow and many more.

Check out the photo gallery below to see everyone who attended the event.

Before the event, Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter spoke about this year’s winners, saying, “For nearly half a century, the Kennedy Center honorees have represented the very best in American creative culture. The awards are often cited by past recipients as the pinnacle of honors, as they recognize not only a performance, album or film, but also an artist’s cumulative work and influence over many decades. This level of distinction is important. Through this holistic perspective, each year the award winners add another layer to the complex and inspiring collage of artists who together tell the story of our collective contribution to global culture. As the center celebrates its 50th anniversary, I can’t help but think that the Kennedy Center’s namesake must be smiling at this celebration, which brings us closer to his vision of “an America that rewards achievement in the arts when we. ” Reward achievements in business or statecraft.’”