The atmosphere at the Kennedy Center Honors program was a bit different this year, as the nation said goodbye to former President George H.W. Bush nearly two nights earlier. The annual ceremony, which just had its 41st go, honors lifetime artistic achievement to America’s most impactful performing artists.

Honorees of the 2018 program include Cher, Reba McEntire, Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter, as well as the creators of “Hamilton” — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire and Thomas Kaile. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania declined to attend the ceremony for the second time, despite returning back to Washington from the Group of 20 summit earlier in the day. This makes Trump the first president to miss the Kennedy Center Honors twice.

“The night kicked off with an extended standing ovation in Bush’s memory at the request of hostess Gloria Estefan,” AP News reported on Dec. 3, 2018. Estefan went on to praise the 41st president and even shared a heartwarming memory about him on a visit to White House with her 8-year old son. Singer Kelly Clarkson was also on hand to introduce honoree Reba McEntire and even performed McEntire’s song “Fancy.” The program strayed somewhat from tradition this year, as it honored a contemporary piece of work in the performing arts, “Hamilton.” The creators were all honored with lifetime achievement awards. Whoopi Goldberg followed with her tribute for honoree Cher as Cyndi Lauper closed the ceremony performing Cher’s hit “If I Could Turn Back Time.”

We rounded up all of the best moments from the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors program. From the red carpet and ceremony all the way to the special moments amongst the honorees following.

Check out photos of the 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors below:

Sunday Dec. 2, 2018

Reba McEntire attends the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center in Washington. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Honoree Cher arrives at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Gloria Estefan, a 2017 Kennedy Center Honoree, arrives with husband Emilio Estefan at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Honorees, co-creators of “Hamilton,” from left, Andy Blankenbuehler, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail and Alex Lacamoire attend the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center in Washington. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Honoree Philip Glass attends the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center in Washington. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Honoree jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter arrives at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner on Saturday in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Pianist Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad arrive at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Front row from left is Wayne Shorter, Cher, Reba McEntire and Philip Glass; while back row from left, the co-creators of “Hamilton,” Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler and Alex Lacamoire appear on stage during the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center in Washington. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Honorees Wayne Shorter and Reba McEntire talk together following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Andy Blankenbuehler, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Alex Lacamoire — the co-creators of “Hamilton” and some of the night’s honorees — pose for a selfie following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Honoree Philip Glass, second right, talks with fellow Honorees, the co-creators of “Hamilton,” Thomas Kail, center, Lin-Manuel Miranda, second from left, Alex Lacamoire, left, Andy Blankenbuehler, right, following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Honorees Thomas Kail, left, one of the co-creators of “Hamilton,” talks with Wayne Shorter, jazz saxophonist and composer, following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

2018 Kennedy Center Honorees: front row form left is Wayne Shorter, Cher, Reba McEntire, Philip Glass, back row from left, the co-creators of “Hamilton,” Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire pose for a a group photo at the ceremony. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Front row from left, David Rubenstein, 2018 Kennedy Center Honorees Wayne Shorter, Philip Glass, Reba McEntire, Cher, Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter; back row from left, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, Grace Rodriguez, and the 2018 Kennedy Center Honorees, the co-creators of “Hamilton,” Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Alex Lacamoire pose for the group photo at the State Department following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Lead image by AP Photo/Kevin Wolf; Sourced by AP News

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