CMT News

Merle Haggard is one of five performing artists who will receive the Kennedy Center Honors in December in Washington, D.C. The prestigious award recognizes an individual's contributions to American culture. Other recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, dancer-choreographer-director Bill T. Jones and Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman. The medallions will be presented by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a private State Department dinner on Dec. 4, followed by an all-star tribute performance on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS on Dec. 28.