Honorees Gather for the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

Honorees Gather for the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors — PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

December 3, 2012 | 3:26 p.m.

What do the surviving members of a rock band, a blues musician, an actor, a dancer, and a late-night talk-show host have in common?

On an average day, maybe not a lot. But this past weekend, all of these people were recognized at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors event. The list of "recipients charts the international standard of excellence set by America's artists, as well as the aesthetic inspiration provided by artists of other nations who have achieved prominence on these shores," according to the Kennedy Center website.

This year's honorees include the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, musician Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, late-show host David Letterman, and dancer Natalia Makarova.

Below are scenes from the weekend's events.

Led Zeppelin members (from left) Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Robert Plant chat on the red carpet after arriving at the Kennedy Center for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors gala on Sunday, Dec. 2. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama leave a reception on Sunday for the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors recipients in the East Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Obama is applauded by the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors recipients (from left) Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin; ballerina Natalia Makarova; television host David Letterman; actor and director Dustin Hoffman; and bluesman Buddy Guy at the end of a reception hosted by Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree Robert Plant comforts fellow honoree Natalia Makarova after she tires of having her photo taken at the end of a State Department dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Former President Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pose for a photo after the State Department dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton shares a laugh with 2012 Kennedy Center honorees (from left) John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Buddy Guy, and Robert Plant. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Actress Meryl Streep uses her cell phone to get a photo of her and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton following the State Department dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors recipients. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

The 2012 Kennedy Center Honorees and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wait for former President Clinton to join them for a group photo on Saturday. The honorees are (from left) John Paul Jones, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Natalia Makarova, Robert Plant, Dustin Hoffman, and David Letterman. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree Dustin Hoffman arrives at the State Department with his wife, Lisa, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree Natalia Makarova congratulates fellow honoree Dustin Hoffman (second from right) as he stands with honorees Buddy Guy (left) and Robert Plant after a State Department dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Comedian Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evelyn Colbert, arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree Natalia Makarova arrives at the State Department with her son, Andrei Karkar and husband, Edward Karkar, for the Kennedy Center Honors gala dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honorees and members of Led Zeppelin John Paul Jones (left), Jimmy Page (second from left), and Robert Plant (right) talk with fellow honoree Buddy Guy after the State Department dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree and blues guitarist Buddy Guy (center) arrives at the State Department with his family for the Kennedy Center Honors gala sinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2012 Kennedy Center honoree David Letterman and his wife, Regina, arrive at the State Department on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

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