Oprah, McCartney receive Kennedy Center Honours

LONDON - TV mogul Oprah Winfrey and Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney received the Kennedy Center honour for their contribution to American culture.

The chat show host and singer held hands as they sat on stage at the 33rd Kennedy Center Honours, held at the White House event in Washington DC Sunday, reports dailymail.co.uk.

US President Barack Obama said all the people chosen to receive this year’s honours have “given the nation the extraordinary gift of the arts”.

“Although the honourees on this stage each possess a staggering amount of talent, the truth is, they aren’t being recognised tonight simply because of their careers as great lyricists or songwriters or dancers or entertainers. Instead, they are being honoured for their unique ability to bring us closer together and to capture something larger about who we are - not just as Americans, but as human beings,” said Obama.

Country singer Merle Haggard, Broadway composer Jerry Herman and dancer Bill T. Jones were awarded too.