The winners include Motown Records creator Berry Gordy, “Saturday Night Live” mastermind Lorne Michaels, actress-singer Bette Midler, opera singer Justino Diaz and folk music legend Joni Mitchell.

This year’s event also represents a return to political normality, with the participation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The Democrat will be the first president to attend the Kennedy Center Honors since 2016.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump skipped the show for the first three years of her tenure after several of the artists honored in 2017, her first year in office, threatened to boycott a White House reception if the Republican participated in it.

The Trumps also deleted a traditional White House ceremony for the award winners, which Biden resumed Sunday afternoon with a cheerful holiday rally.

“We welcome everyone,” he told a crowd of around 150 seated in the East Room, adorned with Christmas trees and wreaths. Guests included Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Caroline Kennedy, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Chita Rivera, Steve Martin and Herbie Hancock.

“Our nation is stronger, more vibrant and more vibrant because of you,” Biden told the award recipients.

Biden praised the artists’ work, their ‘sixth sense’ that helps them create and move so many people, saying, “I don’t think you fully appreciate what you do for so many people. “

He spoke of the “sound of soul” of Diaz, of Gordy’s creation of “one of the most iconic companies” in American history with Motown Records. With Michaels, he joked, “Finally, it’s my turn to say something about you,” mocking Michaels’ SNL show, which regularly pokes fun at presidents, including the current Commander-in-Chief.

“You make me laugh at myself a lot,” Biden said, then added that Michaels was auditioning actors right now to play him on SNL next. Biden asked Steve Martin to come forward as an example of the type of talent Michaels has cultivated over the past decades.

Martin paused and asked the president, “Do you want me to play you?” The crowd erupted into laughter.

Biden then professed his admiration for Mitchell and Midler, telling Midler that “people will never forget how you make them feel. It’s your gift, it’s amazing.

And finally: “Joni. Your words and melodies touch the deepest parts of our soul, ”Biden said.

Last year, the pandemic forced organizers to postpone the annual ceremony from December to May 2021. Tributes to the artists were filmed over multiple nights and at multiple locations on campus.

This year’s main COVID-related change was to move the annual Saturday ceremony, where award recipients receive their medallions on rainbow-colored ribbons, to the Library of Congress instead of the State Department .

Sunday’s ceremony, which airs Dec. 22 on CBS, is the centerpiece of the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Center’s cultural programming. The center opened in 1971.