Recipients of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert DeNiro, and Bruce Springsteen watch as U.S. President Barack Obama hosts the 2009 Kennedy Center Honorees at an East Room reception in the White House December 6, 2009 in Washington, DC. The group was gathered for the taping of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors tribute program to be aired December 29th.