President Barack Obama, right, and first lady Michelle Obama, seen standing in the audience at right, applaud the recipients of the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors, from left, singer and songwriter Neil Diamond, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins, and actress Meryl Streep, during a reception in honor of the recipients in the East Room of the White House, in Washington, on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011. Not pictured is honoree and singer Barbara Cook. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)