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# The Obamas Were Celebrated at Their Last Kennedy Center Honors

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Uvgabpro.m3u8" -->
## Video: The Obamas Were Celebrated at Their Last Kennedy Center Honors

[Watch (HLS stream): The Obamas Were Celebrated at Their Last Kennedy Center Honors](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Uvgabpro.m3u8) (1:11)

![The Obamas Were Celebrated at Their Last Kennedy Center Honors](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Uvgabpro/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2016-12-05. The longest, loudest standing ovation of the Kennedy Center Honors gala wasn’t reserved for Al Pacino, Mavis Staples or the Eagles. Instead, it went to the man sitting to their left: President Barack Obama._


---

Jul 27, 2023 9:13 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

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[Barack Obama Honors Late Rep. Elijah Cummings at His Funeral](/video/j5Jgib9Y/)

### Barack Obama Honors Late Rep. Elijah Cummings at His Funeral

[Gloria Estefan and LL Cool J Get Kennedy Center Honors While Donald Trump Skips the Show](/video/JiXg41gk/)

### Gloria Estefan and LL Cool J Get Kennedy Center Honors While Donald Trump Skips the Show

---


## Transcript

[ APPLAUSE ] So, the arts have always been part of life at the White House because the arts are always essential to American life. That's why, over the past eight years, Michelle and I have Invited some of the best writers and musicians, actors, dancers, to share their gifts with the American people and to help tell the story of who we are. And to inspire what's best in all of us. [ LAUGH ] [ APPLAUSE ] We need song and cinema Drama and paintings and performance to help us challenge our assumptions, to question the way things are and maybe inspire us to think about how things might be. The arts help us celebrate our triumphs, but also holds up a mirror to our flaws.

And all of that Deepens our understanding of the human condition. It helps us to see ourselves in each other. It helps to bind us together as a people. [ APPLAUSE ]

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