(Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press)Before the red-carpet arrivals at the 39th annual Kennedy Center Honors begin, the word travels down the press scrum: Several VIPs in attendance do not wish to discuss politics, thankyouverymuch. First up is singer Sam Moore, best known for the hit “Soul Man,” twirling the original Wonder Woman and friend-of-the Kennedy Center Lynda Carter in a spontaneous dance. Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter swings by and she can’t help but compliment the president, who hosted the honorees for the final time earlier that evening, along with first lady Michelle Obama, at the White House. “He’s such a charismatic and inspiring figure.”Still, she says, she’s optimistic about the future of the Honors under a Trump administration. “It’s always this weekend we’re negotiating the budget,” she says, but she admits that she has found the ultimate way to escape the news cycle: “I left my phone in the car!”[Some Eagles fans are upset that Kennedy Center Honors omit former band members]

Source: Washington Post December 05, 2016 01:20 UTC