Kennedy Center Honors 2012 Pictures Kennedy Center Honors 2012 David Letterman attends the Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House on Dec. 2, 2012, in Washington. The Kennedy Center Honors recognized seven individuals - Buddy Guy, Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant - for their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images