2009 Kennedy Center Honors

Jazz musician Dave Brubeck, a 2009 Kennedy Center honoree, on the red carpet.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Robert De Niro receives his Kennedy Center lifetime achievement award.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Mel Brooks shows off his Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Opera singer Grace Bumbry, an honoree at the 32nd Kennedy Center Honors.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

President Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House at an event to honor the Kennedy Center honorees.  (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

William Kennedy Smith, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Victoria Reggie Kennedy attend.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Melissa Etheridge on the red carpet.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Washington, DC, Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife, Michelle.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Former Defense Secretary and Sen. William Cohen and his wife, author Janet Langhart.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Actors Harvey Keitel and Daphna Kastner.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Harry Connick Jr.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Brian Williams, anchor of “NBC Nightly News.”  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and wife Amy Rule.  (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)

Carl Reiner, longtime friend and associate of honoree Mel Brooks.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Roger Bart, who starred in Mel Brooks’ musical version of “Young Frankenstein.”  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Actor Donald Sutherland.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Singer Aretha Franklin.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Actress Jane Krakowski.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Actor Richard Kind.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Peter Orszag, President Obama’s director of the office of management and budget.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

David Gregory, host of “Meet the Press,” and wife Beth Wilkinson.  (Kris Connor / Getty Images)

Martin Scorsese, who has directed honoree Robert De Niro in several movies.  (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)

Sting and wife Trudie Styler.  (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)

Opera singer Denyse Graves.  (Martin H. Simon / Getty Images)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.  (Ron Sachs / EPA)

“The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart with his wife, Tracy. Stewart spoke on behalf of Bruce Springsteen.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Actress Lynda Carter.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.  (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

“The View” co-host Barbara Walters and actor Frank Langella.  (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Matthew Morrison of the TV show “Glee.”  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and husband Paul Pelosi.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Actor Matthew Broderick.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Singer Jennifer Nettles.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Actress Carol Burnett.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.  (Kevin Wolf / Associated Press)

“CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric and date, Brooks Perlin.

FOR THE RECORD: Couric’s date was earlier misidentified as her husband Jay Monahan, who passed away in 1998.  (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)

Actor Jack Black and wife Tanya Hayden.  (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)

Actor-director Ben Stiller.  (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)

Actress Sharon Stone and Raoul Mongilardi.  (Nicholas Kamm / AFP / Getty Images)