Stephen Colbert to Host Kennedy Center Honors for Third Straight Year

11/21/2016 by Associated Press

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Stephen Colbert tapes a segment for *The Late Show* at the Quicken Loans Arena on July 17, 2016, ahead of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Stephen Colbert will return to host the Kennedy Center Honors for the third year in a row.

The Kennedy Center announced Monday (Nov. 21) that the host of CBS' Late Show will emcee the 39th annual gala in Washington. It will be held on Dec. 4 and broadcast Dec. 27 on CBS.

Recipients of this year's honors are actor Al Pacino, rock band the Eagles, pianist Martha Argerich, gospel singer Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter James Taylor.

The Kennedy Center Honors go to those who influence American culture through the arts. They are among the nation's most prestigious awards for performing artists.

The gala will be produced for the second straight year by Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment, the longtime producers of the Tony Awards.