Letterman, Hoffman, Zeppelin honoured by Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) – David Letterman’s “stupid human tricks” and Top 10 lists are being vaulted into the ranks of cultural acclaim as the late-night comedian receives this year’s Kennedy Center Honors with rock band Led Zeppelin and three other artists.

Stars from New York, Hollywood and the music world joined President Barack Obama at the White House on Sunday night to salute the comedian, the band, and their fellow recipients: Actor Dustin Hoffman, Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy and ballerina Natalia Makarova.

The honours are the nation’s highest award for those who influenced American culture through the arts. The recipients will be saluted by fellow performers in a show to be broadcast Dec 26 on CBS.

Mr Obama elicited laughs from his guests when he described the honorees as “some extraordinary people who have no business being on the same stage together.”