Kennedy Center announces 2001 honors list
( 2001-09-06 14:19 ) (7 )

Actors Jack Nicholson and Julie Andrews, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, composer Quincy Jones and pianist Van Cliburn are the winners of this year's Kennedy Center Honors, the center announced on Wednesday.

The coveted Kennedy Center Honors roll rewards artists who have made a "unique and extremely valuable contribution" to America's cultural life, said Kennedy Center chairman James Johnson.

Johnson said this year's list honored a beloved actress, British-born Julie Andrews, Italian opera star Luciano Pavarotti and one of the "most brilliant and celebrated actors of our age," Jack Nicholson.

He described Quincy Jones as a musician who had a spectacular influence on all facets of American popular music for more than half a century, while pianist Van Cliburn's "stellar" career bore witness to the "life-affirming power of music."

The five will be saluted at a gala event at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 2, to be attended by President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush and a host of stars.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is set to bestow the honors officially on Dec. 1 at a State Department dinner for the five.