Grateful Dead to Receive Kennedy Center Honors, Alongside Francis Ford Coppola, Bonnie Raitt, the Apollo Theater and More
Photo Credit: Jay Blakesberg
The 2024 Kennedy Center Honors selections have arrived, and the Grateful Dead lead this year’s cohort of artists selected for lifetimes of achievement and commitment to their craft. Enduring bandmates Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bobby Weir number among four other institutions from the worlds of music and film to be awarded for artistic excellence in the ceremony, which will be held at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center on December 8, just as the band prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
The band’s peer honorees in the 47th annual class are director Francis Ford Coppola, blues-rock mainstay Bonnie Raitt, Cuban-American jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer Arturo Sandoval and Harlem’s Apollo Theater, which will receive an unprecedented special honor as the iconic site that has brought generations of influential Black artists to prominence since 1914.
“From our earliest days in San Francisco and as far as our tours have taken us, it has been and still is an incredible ride,” reflected Hart, Weir, Kreutzmann and Lesh in a statement on the Dead’s selection. “We’ve had the opportunity to play with many talented musicians, interact with many gifted people—and to be part of something much larger than ourselves. Our music has always been about exploration and breaking through or finding our way around barriers, not just musically but also in bringing people together. The energy, the love, the connection and sharing—once again, that’s what it’s all about. As we enter our 60th year of the Grateful Dead’s journey in 2025, we’re beyond grateful for this recognition and for the journey we are on together. This honor reminds us of all those moments and the people who helped us along the way.”
“Our Honorees this year have each played an invaluable, pioneering role in developing American culture—not with one act of art but with their decades-long devotion to pushing creative boundaries,” adds Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “In December, we are thrilled to pay special tribute to New York City’s renowned Apollo Theater on its 90th anniversary. Throughout its history, The Apollo has guided us and the world forward by discovering and nurturing raw talent, molding a unique cultural identity that still defines American culture today. Across Honors weekend, artists with special connections to The Apollo will serve as ambassadors of the institution’s legacy.”
The 47th annual Kennedy Center honorees will be saluted for their contributions with a ceremony of tributes and performances by peers and artists indebted to influence. CBS will broadcast the ceremony for viewers at home on Monday, December 23. In anticipation of the awards, members of the Grateful Dead will continue to bring the band’s legacy to new audiences with Dead & Company, which continues its Dead Forever residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere through Aug. 10. For tickets and more information, visit deadandcompany.com.
Read on for the complete artist responses to the Kennedy Center Honors selections.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to collaborate with great artists and wonderful people throughout my career, and I have never stopped learning. There is no greater honor than to be included along with those who inspired me, who I looked up to, and who gave me encouragement when times were dim. I am grateful to the Kennedy Center, my beloved colleagues, to those who equate beauty and truth, and to all the children of the world.”
—Francis Ford Coppola
“It goes without saying that the Kennedy Center Honors represents the highest of reaches for artistic achievement. To be recognized alongside the artists who have in the past received this honor is beyond humbling. The Grateful Dead has always been about community, creativity, and exploration in music and presentation. We’ve always felt that the music we make embodies and imparts something beyond the notes and phrases being played—and that is something we are privileged to share with all who are drawn to what we do—so it also must be said that our music belongs as much to our fans, the Dead Heads, as it does to us. This honor, then, is as much theirs as ours.
“From our earliest days in San Francisco and as far as our tours have taken us, it has been and still is an incredible ride. We’ve had the opportunity to play with many talented musicians, interact with many gifted people—and to be part of something much larger than ourselves. Our music has always been about exploration and breaking through or finding our way around barriers, not just musically but also in bringing people together. The energy, the love, the connection and sharing—once again, that’s what it’s all about. As we enter our 60th year of the Grateful Dead’s journey in 2025, we’re beyond grateful for this recognition and for the journey we are on together. This honor reminds us of all those moments and the people who helped us along the way.
“Thank you, Kennedy Center, and to all the folks who had a hand in bringing us here, for this incredible honor.”
—Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh & Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead
“I am deeply honored and thrilled to have been chosen to receive one of this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. I have long been an admirer of the awards and have been so blessed to be able to participate in several shows honoring others. There is no higher level of esteem nor as delightful a celebration and I want to extend my sincere thanks to all who have chosen me to receive this honor. I look forward to the upcoming ceremony and festivities, which I know will be one of my life’s peak experiences.”
—Bonnie Raitt
“I am profoundly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. This recognition is an extraordinary milestone in my career and a testament to the support and encouragement I have received from my family, friends, colleagues, and fans. Throughout my journey, I have strived to create, perform, and inspire with passion and integrity. Being acknowledged by such an esteemed institution validates my efforts and motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of my art. I am incredibly grateful to the Kennedy Center for this honor, and I look forward to contributing further to the vibrant cultural tapestry that the Center celebrates and nurtures. Thank you once again for this incredible honor.”
—Arturo Sandoval
“We are thrilled to be the first organization honored in the history of the Kennedy Center Awards, emphasizing The Apollo’s impact on the past, present, and future of American culture and the performing arts. From the longest-running talent show in America with Amateur Night at The Apollo, which launched the careers of icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill, to performances from beloved legends like Smokey Robinson and Lil’ Kim and today’s biggest stars like Drake, The Apollo has always been a home for artists to create and a home for audiences to see incredible music and art from legendary artists.”
—Michelle Ebanks, President & CEO, on behalf of The Apollo
