kennedy center honors

In this Dec. 10, 2010 file photo, Erin Brady, left, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, walk the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington.

The worlds of politics and arts mingled Sunday at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, with President Barack Obama among those toasting five stars of stage, screen and music.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined in celebrating the nation's top artists receiving the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday while home for less than 36 hours between diplomatic travels.

Merle Haggard is no stranger to the White House: He was a guest of both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, who -- when he was governor of California -- had granted the singer a full pardon for the felonies and misdemeanors that led to three years at San Quentin Prison.

With a little help from Carol Burnett, a new star from the hit TV show "Glee" and other top entertainers, political Washington is saluting five of the nation's top artists with the Kennedy Center Honors this weekend.