The Kennedy Center Honors have been bestowed upon notable figures in the arts, from James Brown to Lucille Ball, since 1978.

In 2022, eight people have been named as honorees. Their work emcompasses rock, soul, classical and Christian music, as well as acting and directing. Together, they “​​add another layer to the complex and inspiring collage of artists that together tell the story of our collective contribution to global culture,” according to Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter.

Here’s who will be honored at this year’s ceremony in December.

All the 2022 Kenedy Center Honorees

George Clooney

The Ocean’s Eleven actor and Good Night and Good Luck director joins fellow actor-directors Warren Beatty, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford on the list of Kennedy Center Honorees.

“Whether saving humanity, masterminding a heist, or captaining a ship in dangerous seas, actor George Clooney’s unique brand of earnest charisma and his complete embodiment of a character has led us to root for him every time,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein in a press release.

Among the other accolades Clooney has won in his career include two Oscars (one for acting in Syriana, the other for producing Argo), a BAFTA and four Golden Globes. He also earned the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2018.

Amy Grant

Singer Amy Grant’s career spans nearly 50 years. Among her achievements, she became the first contemporary Christian music artist to have a platinum record, and has sold over 30 million albums.

“Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Amy Grant became the first artist to bring contemporary Christian music to the forefront of American culture, then equally thrived after crossing over into mainstream pop with hit after hit, and today is revered as the Queen of Christian Pop,” said Rubenstein.

The Kennedy Center Honor will add to Grant’s previous accolades, which include six Grammys, a place in the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Gladys Knight

“In her 55-year music career, legendary singer and America’s beloved Empress of Soul Gladys Knight went from the Pips of Georgia to Grammy royalty, showcasing a boundless vocal range and soulfulness that has stood the test of time, said Rubenstein of the R&B legend’s inclusion.

The icon joins other soul singers like Al Green, Ray Charles and Smokey Robinson in the rollcall of Kennedy Center Honorees. She also joins Paul McCartney and Tina Turner on the short list of Kennedy Center Honor recipients who have also performed James Bond movie themes.

Knight has won seven Grammys and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (with the Pips).

Tania León

“A brave, young Cuban refugee turned Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and music ambassador, Tania León has blessed America for more than five decades with her astoundingly original compositions and continues to be a major influence on classical music,” said Rubenstein of the 79-year-old Cuban-American composer, conductor and arts educator.

León’s Pulitzer Prize came in 2021, capping off a career that has also seen her receive the New York Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award alongside numerous honorary doctorates and prestigious teaching posts.

U2

Bono (a.k.a., Paul Hewson), The Edge (a.k.a., David Evans), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. are U2, the legendary rock band best known for such classic albums as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. They join fellow groups such as Led Zeppelin, Eagles, and the Who on the list of Kennedy Center Honorees.

Rubenstein said of the Irish group’s inclusion: “One of most influential rock bands of the modern rock era, U2, won over America and the world long ago with their iconic anthems, potent lyrics, and powerful messages of social justice and global citizenship—earning a musical legacy that crosses generations, inspires, and unites.”

As well as recording albums that have sold over 150 million, U2 have won 22 Grammys (more than any other group). They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.