James Brown, Carol Burnett, Loretta Lynn, Mike Nichols and Itzhak Perlman are the honorees at the 26th annual gala, hosted by Caroline Kennedy. Lynn is praised by Sissy Spacek, George H.W. Bush, Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks. Nichols' salute is led by Tom Stoppard, Elaine May, Candice Bergen and Meryl Streep. Singing Brown's praises are LL Cool J, Dan Aykroyd and Yolanda Adams. Perlman is honored by Pinchas Zukerman, while Burnett is lauded by Julie Andrews, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman.