The annual gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts features personalized tributes with performances and testimonials from fellow artists.

Simpson’s grown more acquainted with the Dead’s music in recent years, particularly as he joined some of the band for the Dead Ahead Festival in Mexico at the beginning of 2024. He told Uncut magazine that learning Jerry Garcia’s guitar playing gave him renewed inspiration.

The event was held on Dec. 8 and airs tonight on CBS — the honorees are the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, Francis Ford Coppola, and the Apollo Theater

Bonnie Raitt was hailed as 'all red hair and no B.S.' during the Kennedy Center Honors, which also feted Francis Ford Coppola, Arturo Sandoval and the Grateful Dead.

Celebrities, cultural icons and a few surprise guests paid tribute to honorees at the annual Kennedy Center Honors celebration in Washington, D.C.

Those honored this year are Francis Ford Coppola, director and filmmaker; Grateful Dead rock band; Bonnie Raitt, singer, songwriter and guitarist; Arturo Sandoval, jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer;