Joel, Santana to receive Kennedy Center Honors

WASHINGTON (AP) - September 12, 2013

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the selections Thursday. The honorees also include jazz artist Herbie Hancock and opera star Martina Arroyo.

The award is the nation's highest honor for those who influence American culture through the arts. President Barack Obama hosts the honorees at the White House, and Secretary of State John Kerry hosts a dinner in their honor.

Top entertainers will salute the honorees in a gala performance Dec. 8 to be broadcast Dec. 29 on CBS.

This is the first year of a revised selection process after a group last year said the Kennedy Center had long excluded Latinos from the prize.

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