Dick Van Dyke looked as jubilant as ever on Friday as he and country music superstar Garth Brooks arrived for the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The 95-year-old film, television and Broadway star and the 59-year-old singer–songwriter were joined by other cultural luminaries, including the influential folk singer Joan Baez, the actress and choreographer Debbie Allen and the violin virtuoso Midori.
The ceremony, which presents a lifetime achievement award to major figures in the performing arts, was presented at the Kennedy Center opera house due to Covid-19 safety concerns, rather than at the State Department, where its traditionally held.
Culture fixtures: Dick Van Dyke, 95, looks shockingly spry despite carrying a cane as he and Garth Brooks, 59, led the newest class of Kennedy Center honorees on Friday night at center’s opera house in Washington, D.C.
The ceremony was previously scheduled for December 2020 but was pushed back until now due to the ongoing pandemic.
Van Dyke, who called the honor ‘the capper on my career’ to ABC News, looked overjoyed to be there with his fellow artists.
The Mary Poppins star sported an infectious smile with plenty of laughter as he arrived on the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo.
Although he got around on a cane, he still seemed full of energy and sported the shaggy white beard he has worn in recent years.
Rescheduled: The ceremony was previously scheduled for December 2020 but was pushed back until now due to the ongoing pandemic. Van Dyke, who called the honor ‘the capper on my career’ to ABC News, looked overjoyed to be there with his fellow artists
Old school: The Mary Poppins star sported an infectious smile with plenty of laughter as he arrived on the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo
Loving wife: Joining the actor was his much-younger wife Arlene Silver, who looked elegant in a low-cut sparkling silver dress that was tied around her waist
Costars: Dick also posed with his friend and former costar Chita Rivera, who starred opposite him on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdy in 1960
Joining the actor was his much-younger wife Arlene Silver, who looked elegant in a low-cut sparkling silver dress that was tied around her waist.
She wore her blond locks done up and had on jewel-encrusted earrings.
Dick also posed with his friend and former costar Chita Rivera, who starred opposite him on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdy in 1960.
She is a previous Kennedy Center honoree and wore her rainbow-colored ribbon while wearing a sheer black dress.
Dressed up: Garth Brooks opted for a more formal three-piece tuxedo with a black vest and represented country music with a black cowboy hat while wearing a close-cropped goatee
Blue mood: He was accompanied by his wife and fellow country superstar Trisha Yearwood, who shimmered in a navy blue satin dress that was ruched around her midriff
Garth Brooks opted for a more formal three-piece tuxedo with a black vest and represented country music with a black cowboy hat while wearing a close-cropped goatee.
He was accompanied by his wife and fellow country superstar Trisha Yearwood, who shimmered in a navy blue satin dress that was ruched around her midriff.
Her long blond locks were swept to one side in lovely waves, and she wore a prominent silver necklace.
Joan Baez began her career as one of the most popular American folk singers in the 1960s and an early friend and collaborator with Bob Dylan.
She stuck to a more casual yet still formal look with a black blazer with sparkling beads on the cuffs and matching pants, along with a black velvet top.
She also wore black patent leather shoes tied with red ribbon.
Laid back: Folk singer Joan Baez stuck to a more casual yet still formal look with a black blazer with sparkling beads on the cuffs and matching pants, along with a black velvet top
New pals: The singer’s unusual guest for the ceremony was Dr. Anthony Fauci, whom she befriended after she painted a portrait of him and shared it online
Family: The singer was also accompanied by her son Gabriel Harris, who wore a black velvet suit with a red-and-blue floral shirt and a fedora
The singer’s unusual guest for the ceremony was Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden.
Baez, who likes to paint portraits of friends, told ABC that she and the medical expert became friends after she painted one of him and posted it online last year, leading them to strike up ‘a mutual fan-ship.’
According to the outlet, some of the honorees were even seen scrambling to properly put their masks on when they saw Fauci with Baez.
The singer was also accompanied by her son Gabriel Harris, who wore a black velvet suit with a red-and-blue floral shirt and a fedora.
Debbie Allen, who starred on the series Fame and is the younger sister of Phylicia Rashad, looked like a queen in a cream-colored dress covered in swirling floral designs.
The outfit featured sheer beaded sleeves, and she wore her dark curly hair swept back to highlight her dangling earrings.
Royalty: Debbie Allen, who starred on the series Fame and is the younger sister of Phylicia Rashad, looked like a queen in a cream-colored dress covered in swirling floral designs
Cute couple: Debbie was accompanied by her husband Norm Nixon in a classic tux
Virtuoso: The violinist Midori (born Midori Goto) showed off a crimson satin dress with a bow over one shoulder and a skirt featuring irregular stripes
Host with the most: Hosting the scaled-back event was previous honoree Gloria Estefan, who wore a ruched white blouse with a black skirt and black platform heels
Debbie was accompanied by her husband Norm Nixon in a classic tux.
The violinist Midori (born Midori Goto) showed off a crimson satin dress with a bow over one shoulder and a skirt featuring irregular stripes.
She began her first public performances at the age of six, and by her early teens she was one of the world’s preeminent violin virtuosos.
Hosting the scaled-back event was previous honoree Gloria Estefan, who wore a ruched white blouse with a black skirt and black platform heels.
The honorees: All five honorees posed together on stage for a photo
Safety first: They were socially distanced on stage for the bulk of the ceremony
Sweet music: The event also featured a performance from cellist Yo Yo Ma, who delighted people at a Massachusetts clinic in March when he gave an impromptu solo performance after receiving his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
The event also featured a performance from cellist Yo Yo Ma, who delighted people at a Massachusetts clinic in March when he gave an impromptu solo performance after receiving his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
All five honorees posed together on stage for a photo, and were socially distanced on stage for the main ceremony.
Although there were far fewer people this year, Debbie, who has participated in multiple previous ceremonies, thought this year’s event was more involved that usual.
‘We’re spending a lot more time together than other groups of honorees,’ she said.
In order to keep the show as jam-packed as it usually is, the performances and tributes were split over two other nights, with some events recorded on Thursday and others to be taped on Saturday.
The full edited event will be broadcast on June 6 on CBS.
Changing it up: Debbie, who participated in previous ceremonies, thought this year’s event was more involved that usual. ‘We’re spending a lot more time together than other groups of honorees,’ she said
More to come: Performances and tributes were filmed Thursday, with more to be filmed on Saturday. The edited ceremony will air on June 6 on CBS