Stephen Colbert to host 2014 Kennedy Center Honors Stephen Colbert appears during the "Been There: Won That: The Returnification of the American-Do Troopscapeon" special of "The Colbert Report" on Sept. 8, 2010, in New York. Scott Gries/Picturegroup This year's Kennedy Center Honors emcee will be Stephen Colbert. The future "Late Show" host will take on the role for the 37th annual event honoring singer Al Green, actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, singer-songwriter Sting and comedian Lily Tomlin. The recipients are chosen based on their lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. I am stunned to be receiving a Kennedy Center Honor at such a young age. I thought it would be years before... I'm sorry. I'm being told I am hosting the Kennedy Center Honors," he joked in a statement. Well, I'm glad. That makes a lot more sense. The Kennedy Center Honors, held in Washington D.C., will broadcast Dec. 30 from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Colbert will succeed Letterman as host of the "Late Show" on CBS next year.