BY BILL HUTCHINSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Monday, December 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Sachs/Pool
Singer Barbra Streisand once described Bush as "an alien sent here to destroy the Earth."
President Bush gingerly embraced one of his biggest bashers last night, bestowing a Kennedy Center Honor on Barbra Streisand.
The two-time Academy Award winner, who once described Bush as "an alien sent here to destroy the Earth," seemed genuinely touched by the nation's top artsy accolade.
"Art transcends politics this weekend," said the Brooklyn-born actress and singer.
Streisand, a Democratic stalwart, has publicly raged that Bush stole the 2000 election and mishandled the Iraq war.
But she played nice Sunday when she was greeted by Bush at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for a reception before the show at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center.
"Everything went so smooth," said country singer George Jones, another recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.
Streisand couldn't resist revealing her true feelings when asked if she would have preferred Barack Obama as the President hosting last night's event.
"That would have been lovely," said Streisand, quickly adding, "or [Bill] Clinton."
On the day of Obama's election, Streisand wrote on her Web site: "November 5th... what a day... a new day... finally [the Rev. Martin Luther King's] words ring true. I am so proud of our country."
George Stevens Jr., who created the honors for art and culture 31 years ago, said he wasn't worried about a dustup between Streisand and Bush.
Bush had in the past "graciously honored" critics such as Robert Redford and Ruby Dee without incident.
Other honorees were Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, choreographer Twyla Tharp and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.
The event, set to air Dec. 30 on CBS, featured performers from New York, Nashville, and Hollywood saluting the honorees, who sat with the President and First Lady Laura Bush.
The young singer-songwriter Ne-Yo sang Streisand's 1965 hit "Lover, Come Back to Me."
"Barbra Streisand is the epitome of emotion in music," he said. "You feel every word."
whutchinson@nydailynews.com
Monday, December 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Sachs/Pool
Singer Barbra Streisand once described Bush as "an alien sent here to destroy the Earth."
President Bush gingerly embraced one of his biggest bashers last night, bestowing a Kennedy Center Honor on Barbra Streisand.
The two-time Academy Award winner, who once described Bush as "an alien sent here to destroy the Earth," seemed genuinely touched by the nation's top artsy accolade.
"Art transcends politics this weekend," said the Brooklyn-born actress and singer.
Streisand, a Democratic stalwart, has publicly raged that Bush stole the 2000 election and mishandled the Iraq war.
But she played nice Sunday when she was greeted by Bush at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for a reception before the show at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center.
"Everything went so smooth," said country singer George Jones, another recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.
Streisand couldn't resist revealing her true feelings when asked if she would have preferred Barack Obama as the President hosting last night's event.
"That would have been lovely," said Streisand, quickly adding, "or [Bill] Clinton."
On the day of Obama's election, Streisand wrote on her Web site: "November 5th... what a day... a new day... finally [the Rev. Martin Luther King's] words ring true. I am so proud of our country."
George Stevens Jr., who created the honors for art and culture 31 years ago, said he wasn't worried about a dustup between Streisand and Bush.
Bush had in the past "graciously honored" critics such as Robert Redford and Ruby Dee without incident.
Other honorees were Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, choreographer Twyla Tharp and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.
The event, set to air Dec. 30 on CBS, featured performers from New York, Nashville, and Hollywood saluting the honorees, who sat with the President and First Lady Laura Bush.
The young singer-songwriter Ne-Yo sang Streisand's 1965 hit "Lover, Come Back to Me."
"Barbra Streisand is the epitome of emotion in music," he said. "You feel every word."
whutchinson@nydailynews.com
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