President Obama heaped praise Sunday on the five latest Americans to be honored at the Kennedy Center, from actress Meryl Streep to cellist Yo-Yo Ma. 
 
 The five -- including musicians Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond and Sonny Rollins -- "have been blessings to all of us," a tuxedoed Obama said in the East Room of the White House, where Ma first played at age 7 for President John F. Kennedy. 
 
 "Each of them has been blessed with an extraordinary gift. Tonight, we thank them for sharing that gift with us," the president said. 
 
 "Just to be clear," he added, "this doesn't mean that they're over the hill. It just means that they've come a long way." 
 
 He took a few minutes to summarize each honoree's claim to fame: 
 
 Barbara Cook, who won a Tony Award for "The Music Man" and has been a role model for other singers. 
 
 Neil Diamond, whose catchy songs can be reprised by anyone, "no matter how much you've had to drink." 
 
 Sonny Rollins: a "saxophone colossus" and "real jazz master" who can play hour-long solos without any repetition. 
 
 Meryl Streep: the most-nominated actress in Academy Awards history, who Clint Eastwood once called "the greatest actor in the world." 
 
 Yo-Yo Ma: who played at Obama's inauguration and is "a regular here at the White House ... I was telling him we need to give him a room." 
 
 "Perhaps the most amazing thing about Yo-Yo Ma is that everybody likes him," Obama said jealously. "You've got to give me some tips." ||||| With the five honorees ensconced with the first couple at balcony level and the swells nestled in $5,500-a-ticket orchestra seats, there was, as usual, something, and someone, for the entire family: bluegrass, bebop, Broadway, “Out of Africa” and well-behaved choru ses of “Sweet Caroline.” 
 
 For Streep, an all-star collection of stage and movie talent competed to bestow praise on the woman regularly referred to as “the greatest actress of her generation.” Mike Nichols, who directed Streep in four films, including the drama “Silkwood” and the comedy “Heartburn,” said of her: “She could handle any part thrown at her, except maybe Gidget.” Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Streep’s “Sophie’s Choice” co-star Kevin Kline debated the best Streep role. Her “Deer Hunter” co-star, Robert De Niro, went in the other direction. After a video summary of Streep’s career, he quipped, “Looking at those great moments over the years, I realize . . . I was amazing in ‘Deer Hunter.’ ” 
 
 Bill Cosby introduced Rollins’s segment, calling the jazz saxophonist “a giant of this most American art form.” This was followed by a mini-concert (Ellington’s “In My Solitude,” Rollins’s “Sonnymoon for Two,” among other numbers), featuring a small army of sax masters — Benny Golson, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Heath and Ravi Coltrane. Rollins, his bushy silver mane as distinct as a beacon in the balcony, looked on with evident pleasure. 
 
 Cook, the one-time Broadway ingenue who evolved into a cabaret and music-hall maestro, was serenaded by Broadway royalty, including Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster and Audra McDonald. The surprise of the torch-song parade was Glenn Close, the original Norma Desmond in the musical version of “Sunset Boulevard,” who sang “Losing My Mind” from “Follies” with just a hint of Desmond-like desperation. 
 
 Diamond was introduced (for reasons unclear) by John Lithgow, who called the pop singer-songwriter “an American classic.” And then the radio-friendly Diamond hits poured forth from the likes of Raphael Saadiq (“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”), Jennifer Nettles (“Hello Again”) and Lionel Richie (“I Am, I Said”). (Because this was an evening of celebration, no one mentioned that the last song contains perhaps the most quizzical couplet in a monster-selling pop song: “I am, I said, to no one there / And no one heard at all, not even the chair.” Not even the chair?) 
 
 And, of course, “Sweet Caroline.” The ballpark and frat-house singalong classic was rendered by Smokey Robinson, with big horn backing. This led to the inevitable audience participation part, with a twist: Scenery parted to reveal a grandstand full of 100 or so Boston Red Sox fans, who have made the Diamond song their anthem. Extra nice touch: The whole crew was joined onstage by Caroline Kennedy. 
 
 The pre-show red-carpet arrivals were once again one of those weird only-in-Washington rituals, with politicians stacking up behind movie stars, musicians and recording artists. Newt Gingrich and wife Callista were early arrivals (turns out “Mamma Mia!” is a big Gingrich favorite — did not know that) , just ahead of another former House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Streep strolled regally in a deep blue gown by Elie Saab (had to ask to find out). Cook was escorted by her son, Adam LeGrant. 
 
 The show’s finale was an extended tribute to Ma, which was a bit of a surprise, given that the last spot is usually reserved for a stirring medley of the pop-music honoree’s big hits. But the final musical mash-up was somehow appropriate for Ma, the much-celebrated cellist who has regularly wandered far from his classical roots. First came an introduction by Stephen Colbert (Ma has been a guest on his show) followed by remarks from Elmo (Ma has appeared on his show, “Sesame Street”). The performance segment included a classical quintet, a bluegrass trio and the world-music Silk Road Ensemble. 
 
 The big to-do concluded with all those players, along with a children’s choir, backing James Taylor on the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.” 
 
 Eclectic, for sure. 
 
 A two-hour version of the ceremonies will be broadcast Dec. 27 on CBS. 
 
 Read more about this year’s Kennedy Center Honorees: 
 
 • Neil Diamond| photos 
 
 • Yo-Yo Ma | photos 
 
 • Sonny Rollins | photos 
 
 • Barbara Cook | photos 
 
 • Meryl Streep| photos
– It was glitz DC-style at the Kennedy Center last night, which saw five artists honored during this year's gala: Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins, and Barbara Cook. The Washington Post reports that the red carpet was a jumble of politicians (Newt Gingrich and wife Callista) and celebrities (Streep wore Elie Saab). This year's recipients sat with the first couple in the balcony (orchestra seats went for $5,500 a pop). Quips abounded, with director Mike Nichols saying Streep "could handle any part thrown at her, except maybe Gidget." After a video montage of her career was screened, Robert De Niro observed, "Looking at those great moments over the years, I realize ... I was amazing in Deer Hunter." Back at the White House, Obama offered more praise, saying the five "have been blessings to all of us." His take on the honorees: Tony Award-winning Cook has been an inspiration for singers that followed, he noted. Diamond has written songs you can sing “no matter how much you've had to drink,” while “saxophone colossus” Rollins can tear through an hour-long solo without repeating himself, Obama said, according to USA Today. Meryl Streep has garnered more Oscar nods than any other actress. Cellist Ma is “a regular here at the White House,” the president observed. “I was telling him we need to give him a room.” On top of that, “everybody likes him," Obama added. "You've got to give me some tips."