TONY BENNETT, SUZANNE FARRELL, JULIE HARRIS, ROBERT REDFORD AND TINA TURNER TO RECEIVE HONORS DURING "THE 28TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: A CELEBRATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS"

The Gala Will Be Taped Dec. 4 For a December Broadcast on the CBS Television Network

CBS Has Broadcast the Kennedy Center Honors Each Year Since its Debut

Singer Tony Bennett, dancer and teacher Suzanne Farrell, actress Julie Harris, actor, director and producer Robert Redford and singer Tina Turner will receive honors for the year 2005, on THE 28TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: A CELEBRATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, to be presented on Sunday, Dec. 4 and broadcast on the CBS Television Network for the 28th consecutive year later that month.

The 2005 Honorees will be saluted by stars from the world of the performing arts at a gala performance in the Kennedy Center's Opera House, which will be attended by the President of the United States and Mrs. Bush and by artists from around the world.

The President and the First Lady will receive the Honorees and members of the Artists Committee, who nominate them, along with the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees at the White House prior to the gala performance. The 2005 Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a supper dance in the Grand Foyer. The Kennedy Center Honors will be bestowed the night before the gala on Saturday, December 3, at a State Department dinner, hosted by the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

"We honor five extraordinary American artists whose unique and abundant contributions to our culture have transformed our lives," said Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman. "Tony Bennett is a brilliant musician and singer's singer whom even the great Frank Sinatra called the best there is; Suzanne Farrell's profound artistry has inspired the creation of masterpieces and is teaching ballet to a new generation; for half a century, the enchanting Julie Harris has been one of this country's most acclaimed and revered actors; Robert Redford is an actor/director whose extraordinary support of independent film has had an immeasurable impact on filmmakers and audiences alike; and Tina Turner's sizzling talent and indomitable spirit has made her one of the world's best-loved entertainers."

The Honors recipients are selected each year by the Board of Trustees of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The recipients are recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts in dance, music, theater, opera, motion pictures and television. The primary criterion in the selection process is excellence. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement. The selection process, over the years, has produced a balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines.

Michael M. Kaiser, President of the Center, expressed the national cultural center's gratitude to the many individuals involved in the success of the Honors program. "In addition to recognizing our most treasured artists, the Kennedy Center Honors also extensively supports the many performing arts initiatives, education and public service programming, and the national outreach effort, Performing Arts for Everyone, which make the Center's presentations accessible to all."

George Stevens Jr., who created the Honors in 1978 with Nick Vanoff, will produce and co-write the show for the 28th consecutive year. The Honors telecast has been honored with five Emmys for Outstanding Program as well as the Peabody Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television. THE 28th ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: A CELEBRATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS is sponsored in part by General Motors and TIAA-CREF.

RATING: To Be Announced