The Kennedy Center has announced its 44th class of honorees, and musical theater alums were well represented among them. This year’s five performing artists are opera singer Justino Díaz, writer-producer Berry Gordy, Tony-nominated producer Lorne Michaels, Tony-winning actress Bette Midler, and singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. The award ceremony will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House and will be broadcast in the spring on CBS and Paramount Plus.
In addition to his operatic repertoire, Justino Díaz played the role of Emile de Becque in the 1987 New York City Opera production of South Pacific as well as on the 1996 premiere recording of the complete score. Below is Díaz singing the show’s “Some Enchanted Evening” at a Liverpool gala concert in 1992.
Recording executive Berry Gordy produced and wrote the book for the 2013 musical Motown, which tells the story of his Detroit music label’s early days. Below is the original Broadway company performing a medley of “Get Ready” and “Dancing in the Street” as well as “I Want You Back” and “The Love You Save” at the 2013 Tony Awards.
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Producer Lorne Michaels earned his first Tony nomination for the 2018 musical Mean Girls. Below is Grey Henson and the original Broadway cast singing “Where Do You Belong?” and “Meet the Plastics” at the 2018 Tony Awards.
EGOT nominee Bette Midler made her Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof and has won two Tonys: one for her 1973 concert and another for her performance of the title role in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! Below are Tanya Everett, Mimi Turque, and Midler singing “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” from Fiddler on the Roof at the 1968 Tony Awards.
Joni Mitchell made her own Broadway concert appearance in Matters of the Heart at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in 2000. She also contributed songs (along with Gordy and others) to the short-lived 1982 musical Rock ’n’ Roll! The First 5,000 Years. Below is Mitchell singing her classic “Both Sides Now” in 2000.