Streep and Diamond claim accolades

Meryl Streep may have her next film assignment and Neil Diamond thanked the namesake of his famous tune 'Sweet Caroline' as they joined other luminaries from Broadway, jazz and classical music to receive the Kennedy Centre Honours.

Broadway singer Barbara Cook, famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins were among several to receive the top award for those who have influenced American culture through the arts.

Caroline Kennedy, who hosts the show as part of a living memorial to her assassinated father, John F. Kennedy, acknowledged her personal connection to one award winner. Diamond’s 'Sweet Caroline' was named after her.

“I’m going to have to thank her for that,” Diamond said before the show.

Earlier, President Barack Obama praised the actors and musicians at the White House.

“They have different talents, and they’ve travelled different paths,” Mr Obama said. “And yet they belong here together because each of tonight’s honourees has felt the need to express themselves and share that expression with the world.”

He said everyone has that desire for self-expression in common.

“That’s why we dance, even if, as Michelle says, I look silly doing it,” he said to laughter.

Smokey Robinson sang 'Sweet Caroline' with help from Ms Kennedy.

Classical music stole the show’s finale with surprise tributes from Stephen Colbert and Elmo from TV’s Sesame Street.

“Tonight we celebrate the greatest living cellist,” Colbert said “We chell-ebrate, if you will.”

Shortly after, in a toast to Streep at the US State Department, writer Nora Ephron warned Hillary Clinton that the person who would someday play her on screen is the same woman who played Julia Child in 'Julie and Julia' and Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming 'The Iron Lady'.

Streep, 62, stood up for a better look at the nation’s top diplomat who was back in Washington after a tour of Asia.

“It’s inevitable,” Ephron told Clinton, drawing big laughs. “You met her tonight, and I’m sure you thought she was charming, but she was just soaking you up.”

Streep has won two Oscars in a career spanning Shakespeare to ABBA with the movie 'Mamma Mia!' For her part, Streep said she is in awe of the accolades.