The Last Ship's Sting, Tom Hanks, Lily Tomlin & More Receive 2014 Kennedy Center Honors

The 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony took place on December 7, and a slew of artists with Broadway ties were recipients of the prestigious distinction. The Last Ship scribe Sting, Tony winner Lily Tomlin, Tony nominees Tom Hanks and Al Green and New York City Ballet alum Patricia McBride were recognized this year to their contributions to American art and culture. The gala ceremony will be broadcast on CBS on December 30.

Among the performers and presenters for the event were Christine Baranski, Laura Benanti, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, Jane Lynch, Reba McEntire, Jessie Mueller, Kelli O’Hara, Martin Short, Meryl Streep and the cast of The Last Ship, according to CBS. The ceremony was hosted by Stephen Colbert.

A 16-time Grammy Award winner, Sting wrote the music and lyrics for The Last Ship, inspired by his childhood in Wallsend, England. Beginning December 9, he will step into the show as Jackie. He made his Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera. Comedian and screen star Tomlin has had two one-woman shows on Broadway, and won a Tony for her performance in the second: The Search for Signs of Intelligent Live in the Universe. Hanks, who took home Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, made his Broadway debut in 2013’s Lucky Guy. Grammy winner Green’s memorable soul hits include “Let’s Stay Together” and “Tired of Being Alone;” he received a Tony nomination for his performance in Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. McBride danced with the City Ballet for almost 30 years—nearly all of them as a principal.