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George Clooney: Honored at the White House
Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
US President Joe Biden received Hollywood star George Clooney, rock band U2 and soul singer Gladys Knight at government headquarters in Washington on Sunday.
The artists were honored for their lifetime achievements by the renowned Kennedy Center in Washington on Sunday evening in the presence of Biden.
Pop singer Amy Grant and composer Tania Leon were also among the honorees and were guests of Biden in the White House before the ceremony.
The US President paid tribute to the artists' achievements.
He jokingly introduced Clooney as "Amal Clooney's husband".
Amal Clooney is a prominent human rights lawyer.
"Tonight we celebrate a truly extraordinary group of artists," Biden said.
In addition to the honorees, other celebrities were guests in the White House - such as Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Matt Damon.
Named after former President John F. Kennedy, the Kennedy Center is the largest cultural facility in the US capital.
Past award winners include Meryl Streep, Aretha Franklin, Robert De Niro, George Lucas, Tom Hanks and Sting.
Last year, singer Joni Mitchell and actress Bette Midler received awards, among others.
They were all recognized for their contributions to American culture.
The 45th edition of the event this year was the second glamorous White House event in a few days.
Only at the end of last week did Biden host a state banquet for the first time during his term in office.
Several hundred invited guests attended the dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron, including singer John Legend and his wife, model Chrissy Teigen, and actresses Jennifer Garner and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The menu featured American specialties, including Maine lobster and wine from California's Napa Valley.
And: American cheese – of all things.
The French pride themselves on their cheese.
wit/dpa/Reuters
