Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick will be honored for their lifetime artistic achievements as the 46th class of Kennedy Center honorees.

Amy Grant, George Clooney, Gladys Knight, U2 and Tania León attended a dinner at the U.S. State Department and a gala tribute event. The 45th annual Kennedy Center Honors airs on CBS later this month.

The awards recognize a lifetime of achievement in the performing arts. This year they'll go to George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight, Tania León and U2.

The 44th Kennedy Center Honorees announced today include Motown founder Berry Gordy, folk icon Joni Mitchell, entertainer Bette Midler, TV impresario Lorne Michaels and opera star Justino Díaz.