President Barack Obama played host on Sunday (December 4) at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, which celebrated actress Meryl Streep and singer Neil Diamond. 　　The annual awards program, which also honored cabaret singer Barbara Cook, jazz great Sonny Rollins, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, brought together stars from the stage and screen in a celebration of music, movies, and Broadway shows. 　　 　　Walking the red carpet, before the awards show, Streep said she was thrilled to be honored but wished her parents could have been there. SOUNDBITE: Meryl Streep saying (English): "I thought, I wish my mother and father were alive. 　　I really did because they're the two people on earth who would have loved to see this more than anybody."Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins said the award not only honors his work... but that of jazz itself. SOUNDBITE: Sonny Rollins, saying (English): "It's meant everything to me and it's such a great honor to be able to play and people like me. 　　It's amazing. My fans will say Sonny, Sonny. It's amazing. Who knew that I would ever get this. It's amazing. It's wonderful. I'm very privileged. 　　I'm very fortunate. I'm very blessed." The 34th annual Kennedy Center Honors concert will be broadcast by U.S. TV network CBS on December 27. Lindsay Claiborn, Reuters.