The music and the tributes were flowing as KISS, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford were feted at the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday night (Dec. 7) in Washington, DC.

“Billions and billions of people have watched them over the years,” Donald Trump, the first president to host the Honors, said of this year’s class during his opening remarks.

The 48th edition of the annual gala will be broadcast on CBS (select Paramount+ customers will also be able to stream the show) on Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Billboard caught up with some of the honorees and performers at the show to get their thoughts on the honors and their big night:

Shout It Out Loud: “It doesn’t matter if you’re country or rock or pop, rap. We all share one common thread in all the music, and th

See Full Page