Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J among Kennedy Center honorees

The Clay Center Dispatch ^ | August 3, 2017 | The Associated Press

[2ndDivisionVet]

WASHINGTON (AP) — This year's Kennedy Center honorees will include two singers, a television writer, a dancer - and for the first time, a hip-hop artist.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday announced the recipients of the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors. They are: hip-hop artist LL Cool J, singers Gloria Estefan and Lionel Richie, television writer and producer Norman Lear and dancer Carmen de Lavallade. It's the 40th year of the awards, which honor people who have influenced American culture through the arts.

The honorees will be celebrated at a gala on Dec. 3, featuring performances and tributes from top entertainers and attended by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.....

[RegulatorCountry]

You appear to be mentally ill or perhaps it’s just dementia, in which case it’s pitiful. In either case, I’m done with you. Goodbye.

[kenmcg]

The Kennedy Center for the Performing ARTS what a freakin’ farce. It is time that Trump really frost their cajones and award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the likes of Rush, Hannity, Levin and Savage.

[Seattle Conservative]

Thanks for the personal information - sounds like a nice guy. I like NCIS LA and think he does a good job on that show.

[utahagen]

Oh, I wasn't socializing with LL Cool J! I used to live in Beverly Hills and bumped into him on the street and teased him about being a celebrity. He was a great sport about it and we both got a big laugh a couple of minutes later when — no joke — his Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb. Another time, I was a couple of tables down from him at Mr Chow in Beverly Hills and noticed how kind he was to the staff.

Funny story from the news a few years ago: there was a spate of robberies in Los Angeles and one burglar broke into a house and was caught by the owner, who turned out to be...LL Cool J. The criminal was lucky LL Cool J merely threw him in a closet until the police arrived instead of killing him.

[Tax-chick]

Nice anecdotes!

[nopardons]

Many thanks for all of the links and info!

[dfwgator]

LL is one of the few rappers I like.

[Vendome]

I just call him LL ...

[Tax-chick]

Okay, that makes sense.

[Captainpaintball]

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/norman-lear-boycott-kennedy-center-honors-over-trump-142544095.html

"Legendary TV producer Norman Lear has been announced as one of five of this year’s Kennedy Center honorees, but the “One Day at a Time” creator will boycott the annual White House reception over Donald Trump’s presidency.

Gloria Estefan — who will also be honored alongside musician and record producer Lionel Richie, rapper LL Cool J and dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade — says she will attend and use the opportunity to press Trump on his administration’s immigration policy. “This is a presidency that has chosen to neglect totally the arts and humanities — deliberately defund them — and that doesn’t rest pleasantly with me,” Lear told the New York Times on Thursday. However, Lear’s spokesperson clarified that the producer will attend the awards gala and “wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else that night.” “Mr. President, as a proud immigrant of this country, it’s very important for me that you see the wonderful contributions we have made,” said Estefan. “We have seen a lot of anti-immigrant backlash this year, so for us, it may hold even more beauty than for someone who has lived here all their lives. To get this kind of award is so American.”

Only LL Cool J is showing any class so far.

[ELS]

“Mr. President, as a proud immigrant of this country, it’s very important for me that you see the wonderful contributions we have made,” said Estefan.

So, Gloria hasn't noticed the contributions made by immigrants Ivana and Melania Trump?

[dfwgator]

Gloria, the term is “LEGAL Immigrant”.