Home
Politics
Obama remarked it was the second time this year McCartney had visited the White House -- in July the former Beatles legend was awarded the Gershwin Prize for popular song, and sang "Michelle" to the First Lady.
"It was a thrill," said Obama. "Although apparently Paul joked afterward that he was worried he might become the first guy ever to get punched out by the president."
In the audience, McCartney pointed to his lower lip in reference to Obama's own busted lip, suffered earlier this week during a basketball game.
The president's injury came up again a little later in his speech when he stumbled on the word "superfluous" while reading from a teleprompter about the importance of the humanities.
"It’s hard to say. You try it when you’ve had 12 stitches," Obama said to laughs.
During the pre-dinner reception, McCartney talked about how he was becoming a regular in Washington, according to local media reports.
This year he also received the George Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress.
"I'm getting my own personal parking lot," McCartney joked, according to The Washington Post. "Things come in bundles. I'm honored to be with people you admire. I really admire President Obama and I admire Hillary, too."
Perhaps Obama's most heartfelt praise went to Winfrey, saying he and his wife "personally love this woman."
"The more you know Oprah, the more spectacular you realize her character and her soul are, and the more you appreciate what a wonderful, gifted person she is."
"It’s easy to forget sometimes that Oprah was once a girl with a funny name in a little town down South," he said. "Nobody would have ever dreamed that she would become someone who moves an entire nation each and every day," he added.
Comedian Chris Rock entertained those present, telling jokes one of which targeted Oprah, who was one of Obama's most fervent supporters during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Talking about Oprah and the president, Rock said: "He didn't get her a job. She got him a job!"
Numerous celebrities were at the reception -- singer Diana Ross, actors Julia Roberts, Sydney Poitier and Alex Baldwin, former secretary of state Colin Powell and outgoing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, television news host Barbara Walters and former tennis champion John McEnroe among them.
The 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors are bestowed for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It was a thrill," said Obama. "Although apparently Paul joked afterward that he was worried he might become the first guy ever to get punched out by the president."
In the audience, McCartney pointed to his lower lip in reference to Obama's own busted lip, suffered earlier this week during a basketball game.
The president's injury came up again a little later in his speech when he stumbled on the word "superfluous" while reading from a teleprompter about the importance of the humanities.
"It’s hard to say. You try it when you’ve had 12 stitches," Obama said to laughs.
During the pre-dinner reception, McCartney talked about how he was becoming a regular in Washington, according to local media reports.
This year he also received the George Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress.
"I'm getting my own personal parking lot," McCartney joked, according to The Washington Post. "Things come in bundles. I'm honored to be with people you admire. I really admire President Obama and I admire Hillary, too."
Perhaps Obama's most heartfelt praise went to Winfrey, saying he and his wife "personally love this woman."
"The more you know Oprah, the more spectacular you realize her character and her soul are, and the more you appreciate what a wonderful, gifted person she is."
"It’s easy to forget sometimes that Oprah was once a girl with a funny name in a little town down South," he said. "Nobody would have ever dreamed that she would become someone who moves an entire nation each and every day," he added.
Comedian Chris Rock entertained those present, telling jokes one of which targeted Oprah, who was one of Obama's most fervent supporters during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Talking about Oprah and the president, Rock said: "He didn't get her a job. She got him a job!"
Numerous celebrities were at the reception -- singer Diana Ross, actors Julia Roberts, Sydney Poitier and Alex Baldwin, former secretary of state Colin Powell and outgoing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, television news host Barbara Walters and former tennis champion John McEnroe among them.
The 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors are bestowed for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
