Al Pacino, James Taylor receive Kennedy Center Honors

WASHINGTON -- Al Pacino, James Taylor and the Eagles were saluted on Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center Honors gala, but it was also quite a memorable evening for President Obama. Along with Michelle Obama, the evening marked the final Kennedy Center Honors they would attend as president and first lady, a tradition the couple has upheld annually throughout his eight years in office.

The pair were seated in the balcony along with the recipients of the 39th annual national celebration of the arts: Academy Award-winning actor, Pacino, rock band the Eagles, Argentine pianist Martha Argerich, gospel and blues singer Mavis Staples and musician James Taylor. Each honoree sported their Kennedy Center Honors medallions, which they were presented with on Saturday at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry.

Also as per tradition, the honorees were kept in the dark about which A-listers will be there to salute them until the night of the gala. In 2009, the excitement over the new president "created a lot of fresh energy," George Stevens, creator and longtime producer of the Kennedy Center Honors, said at the time before the show.

And this year was no different. Sean Penn, Garth Brooks, Aretha Franklin, David Letterman, Diana Ross, Kevin Spacey and Ringo Starr were just a handful of the stars drawn to the event to toast the five honorees and see the Obamas sing their Kennedy Center swan song.

"We are going to miss him so much," singer Juanes said of Obama on the red carpet. On hand to perform as part of the Eagles' tribute, he also performed two years ago when Carlos Santana was honored.

Will he come back again next year when Donald Trump will be filling the president's seat in the balcony?

"No," he said, "I don't think so."

Once things got rolling, the political jokes didn't take long to start. In his opening line, host Stephen Colbert welcomed distinguished guests, politicians, diplomats and "endangered swamp dwellers."

Colbert said the country has been lucky to have a leader who is "passionate, intelligent and dignified," which drew cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd. Colbert joked: "Sir, I don't know why you stood up, I was talking about Michelle."

Taylor's tribute was up first, with a surprise guest: former president Bill Clinton, who spoke fondly of "my friend of many years." Clinton said that "in five decades, his melodies and lyrics have literally become seams in the fabric of...my life."

"The wisdom behind that unbelievable voice is hard-earned," noted Clinton, referring to Taylor's previous struggles with addiction.

Darius Rucker performed a medley of Taylor classics, including Sweet Baby James and Carolina in My Mind. Sheryl Crow took to the stage to sing his hit Fire and Rain -- to which Obama could be seen singing right along to.

Garth Brooks, who is such a fan of the singer that he named his daughter Taylor, sang Shower the People and How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), the latter of which Crow and Rucker joined in on and drew the entire crowd to its feet.

Chris O'Donnell said he "considers it one of the greatest honors in his life to have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman."

"I don't think there is an actor in the past five decades that hasn't been influenced by Al Pacino," said Bobby Cannavale, citing Pacino is the reason he became an actor.

Calling Pacino a "cultural icon," Kevin Spacey did his best impression of the actor as he tried to teach the audience how to do the same.

The reason, Spacey says, people like to do impressions of Pacino is because "he has created characters that are unforgettable."

"He makes the gods of acting smile," said Sean Penn.

And finally, it was time to honor the Eagles, including the late Glenn Frey. The group was set to receive the Honors in 2015, but had to delay because of Frey's declining health.

"All want to say is well done boys, and peace and love to everybody," said Ringo Starr before introducing the Kings of Leon, who played Take It Easy. Bob Seger got everyone rocking to Heartache Tonight, and Juanes nailed his rendition of Hotel California, before a finale of Life in the Fast Lane.

The Honors Gala will air for the 39th consecutive year as a two-hour special on CBS at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Dec. 27.