This year's Kennedy Center honorees were (clockwise from top left) LL Cool J, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Norman Lear and Carmen de Lavallade.

This year's Kennedy Center honorees were (clockwise from top left) LL Cool J, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, Norman Lear and Carmen de Lavallade.

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Kennedy Center Honors: The Show Goes On Without Trump

What the Kennedy Center Honors lacked in presidential pomp and circumstance, it made up for with surprise and star power on Sunday night. This was the first time in more than 20 years that a president skipped the annual celebration of artistic excellence held in Washington.