Kennedy Center honorees still relish slimmed-down tribute

This year’s Kennedy Center Honors may be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic — but honoree Dick Van Dyke still says it’s “the capper on my career.”

WASHINGTON -- This year’s Kennedy Center Honors may be a slimmed-down affair as the nation emerges from the coronavirus pandemic — but honoree Dick Van Dyke still says it's “the capper on my career.” The 43rd class of honorees also includes country music legend Garth Brooks, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen, singer-songwriter Joan Baez and violinist Midori. They were honored Friday night at a medallion ceremony that had been delayed from December 2020. All the honorees called the lifetime artistic achievement award a unique honor, even for an accomplished artist. Brooks joked: “I don’t mind being the weak link on the chain. I’m in the chain!”