They honors will be handed out in December at the Washington, DC, arts institution, and the ceremonies will be taped for broadcast. This year, the number of honors rose from five to six. Beatty is the Hollywood film actor and director ("Bonnie and Clyde," "Heaven Can Wait," "Bulworth"), Davis and Dee are icons of black theatre in America, John is the British pop writer who wrote scores to "The Lion King" and Aida, Sutherland is the operatic superstar and composer Williams is known for his Hollywood movie scores ("Jaws," "Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark").
The Kennedy Center Honors is a major fundraiser for the center. The weekend of festivities is Dec. 4.
