Top honour: Tom Hanks accepted appluase from the audience including first lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama during the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast on Tuesday on CBS
Sting and Tom Hanks were fêted on Tuesday's star-studded broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors hosted by Stephen Colbert.
The
annual show on CBS was aired after being filmed earlier this month at
the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Lady
Gaga, Bruce Springsteen and Bruno Mars took part in the tribute to
63-year-old singer Sting whose accomplishments were introduced by
Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep.
The Police frontman has been performing for four decades and has won 16 Grammy Awards.
Lady Gaga sang If I Ever Lose My Faith In You while Bruno Mars sang a medley of So Lonely, Roxanne and Message In A Bottle.
Hanks, 58, had his tribute introduced by David Letterman who will be replaced by Colbert when he steps down as Late Show host in May.
The honorees: Al Green, Patricia McBride, Sting, Lily Tomlin and Hanks applauded during the ceremony
'Not yet,' Letterman told Colbert who sneaked behind him onstage.
After a video montage of Hanks' illustrious acting career from Bosom Buddies to Forrest Gump, the actor stood next to first lady Michelle Obama and accepted applause as President Obama looked on.
Canadian-born comedian Martin Short led the tribute to Hanks that included a performance by Pentatonix, a visit from Hooch from Hanks' 1989 dog comedy Turner & Hooch and commentary by Steven Spielberg.
Wait for it: David Letterman made a joke about Stephen Colbert taking over the Late Show next year
Soul singer: Usher belted out a spirited rendition of Let's Stay Together in tribute to Green
Al Green, 68, also was honoured at the ceremony with an introduction by Whoopi Goldberg.
The singer recounted a recording session breakthrough with Memphis producer Willie Mitchell that ended with Green finding his own voice and belting out the words to his soul song classic Tired Of Being Alone.
The tribute to Green included performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, Jennifer Hudson and Usher who delivered a spirited rendition of Let's Stay Together.
Powerful voice: Jennifer Hudson sang during the tribute to Green
Sting medley: Bruno Mars sang a medley of So Lonely, Roxanne and Message In A Bottle in tribute to Sting
Heartfelt version: Lady Gaga covered a Sting song in tribute to the singer
Green's songs have been covered by Annie Lennox, Dave Matthews, Springsteen and even President Obama, who has famously sung a few lines from Let's Stay Together.
Lily Tomlin, 75, and ballerina Patricia McBride, 72, also were given the nation's highest honour for influencing American culture through the arts.
Jane Lynch, Reba McEntire, Jane Fonda and Kate McKinnon celebrated Tomlin and her many characters that have made people laugh for decades after a hilarious introduction by Garrison Keillor.
Sweet introduction: Whoopi Goldberg introduced the tribute to Green
Rock legend: Bruce Springsteen sang the Sting county song I Hung My Head in tribute
Ton of talent: Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Meryl Streep and Springsteen honoured Sting
McBride was introduced by actress Christine Baranski and celebrated with ballet performances including a brief yet mesmerizing turn by Misty Copeland, 32, of the American Ballet Theater who performed a solo to Tchaikovsky's pas de deux.
The Kennedy Center Honors started in 1977 and there have been 178 recipients including Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson and Steve Martin as well as Springsteen, Streep, Spielberg and Letterman.
Funny guy: Garrison Keillor gave a hilarious introduction to the Lily Tomlin tribute
Funny women: Jane Lynch, Reba McEntire, Jane Fonda and Kate McKinnon celebrated Lily Tomlin