Kennedy Center Honors really got it right this year with Carole King, Rita Moreno, Cicely Tyson and The Eagles

Every year when the Kennedy Center Honors announces the recipients of its lifetime achievement awards, I’m usually rolling my eyes and feeling frustrated.

But this year I’m pleased as punch with the group that includes filmmaker George Lucas, singer-songwriter Carole King and dancer-actress Rita Moreno, the Eagles, actress Cicely Tyson and conductor Seiji Ozawa.

I’m not much of a sci-fi dude so Lucas is not what has me excited nor does Ozawa although I’m sure they are deserving.

But this California gay boy is over the moon that both The Eagles and Miss King are in the group because they are part of my soul. Bought their records as a kid in the 70s and listened to them over and over and over. Hotel California brings back memories of summer days at my neighbor’s pool and I may hold the world’s record for playing Tapestry more times than anyone else on the planet.

And then they have the excellent sense to honor Miss Tyson who I will never, ever forget in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Roots, Wilma, A Woman Called Moses and more recently in The Help, How to Get Away with Murder and A Trip to Bountiful.

Then there is Miss Moreno, the first performer to win the Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards. The original EGOT!

She’s a goddess and an icon and has been dazzling us since West Side Story to The Ritz to HBO’s Oz and throughout my childhood as a cast member of the PBS children’s series The Electric Company.

Bravo!!!!!