Kennedy Center Honors

thumb|300px|Elmo's appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors have been awarded annually since 1978 in Washington, D.C. for lifetime achievements in the performing arts.

Yo-Yo Ma was among the recipients in 2011, along with Barbara Cook, Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, and Sonny Rollins. A video montage honoring Ma included a brief clip of his appearance on Sesame Street.

Afterwards, Elmo introduced a musical tribute to Ma performed by friends and collaborators. During the performance, John Williams steps in to conduct, and with James Taylor perform George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun." Elmo can also be seen singing along with the children's choir revealed part way in.

The presentation aired on CBS on December 27, 2011, and was filmed December 4th.