2019 Kennedy Center Honors: 'Sesame Street,' Linda Ronstadt and more on the red carpet
USA TODAY
![The stars were out in Washington Sunday for the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors. This year's ceremony recognized "Sesame Street," Linda Ronstadt, Sally Field, Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Tilson Thomas. On the red carpet, Muppets Ernie and Bert chatted with reporters as their handlers, Peter Linz and Eric Jacobson, respectively, listened in. Click ahead to see who else was on the red carpet:](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/5fcd9f08-efa9-4084-8240-2bb621b714aa-XXX_HGS_3224.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The stars were out in Washington Sunday for the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors. This year's ceremony recognized "Sesame Street," Linda Ronstadt, Sally Field, Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Tilson Thomas. On the red carpet, Muppets Ernie and Bert chatted with reporters as their handlers, Peter Linz and Eric Jacobson, respectively, listened in. Click ahead to see who else was on the red carpet:
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Sally Field was one of the 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/22f28f2d-c504-4063-b9b3-7a0ac0c645f0-XXX_HGS_4894.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sally Field was one of the 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine White, left, Ralph Johnson and Philip Bailey talked with reporters before the ceremony.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/11675db0-4bed-43df-94dc-8afa546b8907-XXX_HGS_3361.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine White, left, Ralph Johnson and Philip Bailey talked with reporters before the ceremony.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY2019 honoree Linda Ronstadt also walked the red carpet.
Greg Allen, Invision/AP"Sesame Street" co-creator Joan Ganz Cooney, center, characters Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster and their handlers, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph and David Rudman, attended the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images"Sesame Street" co-founder Lloyd Morrisett got a fuzzy kiss from Abby.
Greg Allen, Invision/AP![Composer and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas walked the red carpet before being recognized as one of the 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/d9288a71-2d06-4e72-a0a6-65dd2ce60644-XXX_HGS_3414.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Composer and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas walked the red carpet before being recognized as one of the 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Sally Field talked to press before the festivities.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/a655477d-0043-4594-aaa2-1eeec3714497-XXX_HGS_3432.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sally Field talked to press before the festivities.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![2017 honoree LL Cool J walked the red carpet before hosting the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/f3cff013-1297-46a0-8d29-b8f44e812b85-XXX_HGS_3516.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
2017 honoree LL Cool J walked the red carpet before hosting the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Kevin Kline attended to pay tribute to Linda Ronstadt.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/7360cec9-7ee6-449e-89d8-0832fa5b4fdb-XXX_HGS_4653.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Kevin Kline attended to pay tribute to Linda Ronstadt.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAYCarrie Underwood
Greg Allen, Invision/AP![Pierce Brosnan walked the red carpet before celebrating Sally Field at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/8fbecdbe-8c7b-4d9c-ad15-3ba550c9e0dd-XXX_HGS_4706.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Pierce Brosnan walked the red carpet before celebrating Sally Field at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/c3f66af6-916a-41b4-8b24-34d7dfb6b7b5-XXX_HGS_4832.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Cynthia Erivo performed to honor Earth, Wind & Fire at the Kennedy Center.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/5f833db4-04c4-4e5f-afe0-df45ee53dc5a-XXX_HGS_4954.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Cynthia Erivo performed to honor Earth, Wind & Fire at the Kennedy Center.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAYLucy Liu
Paul Morigi, Getty Images![Joseph Gordon-Levitt was there to celebrate "Sesame Street."](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/688ccb74-ffe3-47ea-ab62-8ab3ca60c630-XXX_HGS_4989.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt was there to celebrate "Sesame Street."
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Cedric the Entertainer was there to celebrate "Sesame Street," too.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/d14cc17f-2196-408e-a52d-a50390d8f672-XXX_HGS_5109.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Cedric the Entertainer was there to celebrate "Sesame Street," too.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Actress and singer Audra McDonald was on hand to pay tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/623fc5e3-b4b7-4187-8ce1-c2ad0340b92e-XXX_HGS_5051.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Actress and singer Audra McDonald was on hand to pay tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Herbie Hancock, a 2013 honoree, walked the red carpet.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/ab38cdab-637b-4972-81c4-f30e455f5918-XXX_HGS_3078.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Herbie Hancock, a 2013 honoree, walked the red carpet.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater lit up the red carpet before the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors with a dazzling ensemble.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/11498b08-618e-4370-8a43-7c1d26d504cb-XXX_HGS_3104.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater lit up the red carpet before the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors with a dazzling ensemble.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Even Bridgewater's Gucci sneakers rocked the bling.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/adbf1265-da12-4d7c-a249-c4f3bdc5d644-XXX_HGS_4663.jpg?width=396&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Even Bridgewater's Gucci sneakers rocked the bling.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAYJoe Jonas, Nick Jonas and Kevin Jonas
Paul Morigi, Getty Images"Sesame Street" characters Ernie, Bert, Big Bird, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster attended the 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors. The characters and their handlers sported yellow feathers to honor Caroll Spinney, the longtime puppeteer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, who died Sunday.
Paul Morigi, Getty Images![Muppet Abby Cadabby and her handler, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, talked to reporters before being honored as part of "Sesame Street" at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/65d42913-8333-4b5a-af50-80d68ef5a16c-XXX_HGS_3168.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Muppet Abby Cadabby and her handler, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, talked to reporters before being honored as part of "Sesame Street" at the 2019 Kennedy Center Honors.
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY![Singer Thomas Rhett was at the Kennedy Center to honor "Sesame Street."](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2019/12/09/USAT/2fa0c601-fc70-4674-bc02-61f08180ed51-XXX_HGS_3159.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Singer Thomas Rhett was at the Kennedy Center to honor "Sesame Street."
Hannah Gaber, USA TODAYJohn Legend
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesKate and Steven Spielberg
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesGarth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesBen Vereen
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesChristopher Jackson
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesSarah Friedman and Aaron Neville
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesDebra Winger
Paul Morigi, Getty ImagesDavid Copperfield and Chloe Gosselin
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