On Screen

The Greeneville Sun, Greeneville, TN December 24 - 30, 2022 — 23 kept up the spiritual messages in her music while endeavoring to reach the widest audience possible. Also a best-selling author, she's part of a musical power couple along with husband Vince Gill. Gladys Knight: One of the en- during legends of pop and soul music, seven-time Grammy winner Knight basically started her career at age 8 as a winner of the clas- sic talent contest "The Original Amateur Hour." Several relatives later became her "Pips," and the group went on to score such hits as "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me." By Jay Bobbin Among the television traditions at the end of a calendar year is a trip to the Kennedy Center. Earlier each December, several legends of the entertainment world are given one of that discipline's highest accolades, the Kennedy Center Honors — and another famed, celebrated group forms this year's "class" as CBS and Para - mount+ show the event Wednes- day, Dec. 28. (It also will stream on Paramount+ starting the next day.) George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, Tania Leon and U2 are feted by friends and peers in the 45th annual ceremony, taped at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. With President Joseph Biden and Dr. Jill Biden in attendance, presenters and performers saluting the honorees include Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Garth Brooks, Patti LaBelle, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, LL Cool J, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Vedder, Big Bird, Anna Deavere Smith, Clooney's veteran-broadcaster father Nick and — as his character Borat — Sacha Baron Cohen. The recipients all have storied histories that are detailed during the program through presenters' comments and brief filmed biog - raphies. Here's a look at the latest Kennedy Center honorees. George Clooney: Though the actor had earlier TV-series strike- outs that he muses about, the role of Dr. Doug Ross on "ER" made Clooney a major star and set him up for a movie career that eventu - ally brought him an Oscar for "Syriana." Also a producer and director, Clooney is well-known for his social activism. Amy Grant: Originally a con - temporary gospel artist before she crossed over into the pop realm with such hits as "Every Heartbeat" and "Good for You," Grant has CroSSWord Solution Puzzle on Page 17 Sudoku Solution Puzzle on Page 25 filled by client Tania Leon: The composer- conductor who learned piano in her native Cuba continued her education and launched her career in New York, where she worked with Arthur Mitchell's Dance The- atre of Harlem and the New York Philharmonic. U2: Forty-six years after its for- mation, the Irish rock band still counts organizer Larry Mullen Jr. and co-founders Paul "Bono" Hew- son, David "The Edge" Evans and Adam Clayton among its members. Long one of the top draws on the concert circuit internationally, the group often has integrated social concerns into their music. Editor's Pick Kennedy Center Honors salute more talents The 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will be shown Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+. L H A N C E I P S W S G O N D N L A S P O I T I E R L G T I O N A A Y W T M I N C A D C J I O L I C E C J A O N Y H L S H E L H T G M G P D U O G T U N P E O R S O H E S L P O S G I L Y A R D J R O S I N I C D R E T E R U S W T A O R M U G C H S L N O D D N W T B I L H R N M S N T U Y A S T R T L A O R E I Y C L N T E A E D Y L H M P S P A H A N G R N S C O J T A L M A Y M O R S E T L I M P R O G N J W E H R S A G E T M T I S R L Y U W M C R N Y Bingo Solution Puzzle on Page 29 SearCh Solution Puzzle on Page 9

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