Sir Paul McCartney to Receive Kennedy Center Honour

Posted on Sep 8th 2010 9:15AM by Andrew Kerr
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Peter Still, Redferns

Sir Paul McCartney is to be honoured by the Kennedy Center for his contribution to American culture, it has been announced.

The award will be presented to the former Beatle at a state dinner on Dec. 4, while the following day there will be a gala event at the White House.

Other recipients of the award this year include Oprah Winfrey, country music's Merle Haggard, composer Jerry Herman and choreographer Bill T. Jones.

Kennedy Center chairman David M Rubenstein said that those receiving the award had "spent their lives enriching, inspiring and elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world."

Speaking of Sir Paul, Rubenstein said he was "one of the most influential and successful songwriters and musicians of all time whose work has continuously altered both the creation and perception of music all over the world", BBC News reports.

A statement released by Sir Paul said, "President Kennedy was such an icon for us in the 60s and his presidency was so inspiring for so many people that it is a great pleasure for this kid from Liverpool to receive this honour."

The recipients will receive their medallions at a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Dec. 4 while the following night they will be President Barack Obama's guests of honour at a White House gala.

This won't be the former Beatle's first visit to the White House this year. As previously reported by Spinner, Sir Paul made the trip to Washington, back in June when he received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.