The Oscar-winning director, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, rock band the Grateful Dead, jazz musician Arturo Sandoval and the iconic Apollo Theater will be honoured at the annual ceremony in December. Each year, the Kennedy Center Honors celebrates artists, performers and creators who have influenced American culture through the performing arts. While the honourees will be celebrated for a lifetime of artistic achievement, New York's Apollo Theater will be honoured as an iconic American institution. In a statement, The Godfather filmmaker said he was "grateful" to be among this year's honourees.