CBS Pictured top L to R: Lorne Michaels and Bette Midler. Pictured bottom L to R: Justino Diaz, Joni Mitchell and Berry Gordy.
The 44th annual Kennedy Center Honors air Wednesday, December 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT times on CBS.
If you don’t have cable, here are several different ways you can watch a live stream of the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors online for free:
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Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime subscribers (Prime comes with a 30-day free trial) can watch a live stream of their local CBS station via the Prime Paramount+ channel (“Premium” plan). You can try both Amazon Prime and the Paramount+ Channel at no cost with a free trial right here:
Once you’re signed up for the Prime Paramount+ Channel, you can watch the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors live on the Amazon Video app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, various smart TV’s, Xiaomi, Echo Show or Echo Spot, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via the Amazon website.
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of CBS (live in most markets) and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV comes with 250 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch most shows on-demand within three days (and sometimes longer) of their conclusion, even if you don’t record them.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” CBS (live in most markets) is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
If you can’t watch live, DirecTV Stream also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to unlimited hours).
Paramount+
This is ultimately the same as the Amazon Prime option above, only you’ll watch on Paramount’s digital platforms instead of Amazon’s. You can watch your local CBS channel live via Paramount+ (“Premium” plan), which comes with a free trial:
Once signed up for Paramount+, you can watch the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors live on the Paramount+ app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Samsung Smart TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via the Paramount+ website.
Kennedy Center Honors 2021 Preview
Every year, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. honors five members of the performing arts community in a star-studded gala celebrating their lifetime contributions to American culture.
For the 44th annual gala, the five honorees include Puerto Rican opera singer Justino Diaz, Grammy-nominated record producer, songwriter, and founder of Motown Berry Gordy, Emmy Award-winning producer and screenwriter Lorne Michaels, Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Bette Midler, and Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell.
Comedian and 2021 Kennedy Center honoree David Letterman will be hosting the event. The honoree film narrators include Graham Nash, Chita Rivera, Adele, and Oprah Winfrey. Presenters include director Cameron Crowe, actor Dan Levy, opera singers Grace Bunbry and Denyce Graves, actresses Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson and Barbara Hershey, and singers Melissa Manchester and Smokey Robinson.
There will also be performances by singers Norah Jones, Ellie Goulding, Brandi Carlile, Herbie Hancock, Brittany Howard, Christian Van Horn, Denyse Graves, Ariana Wahr, Hannah Shea, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, Paul Simon, Beanie Feldstein, Kate Baldwin, Taylor Trensch, Kelli O’Hara, Billy Porter, Smokey Robinson, the Broadway cast of “Ain’t Too Proud”, Andra Day, and Stevie Wonder.
Additionally, the Lorne Michaels tribute will feature “Saturday Night Live” cast members and frequent hosts Steve Martin, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Kevin Nealon, Pete Davidson, Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, and Jimmy Fallon.
“The Kennedy Center Honors celebrates luminaries whose art and creativity have enriched us beyond measure,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein in a statement. “With his distinguished, deeply resonant voice and storied operatic career, Justino Díaz stood on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and today stands as one of the greatest bass-baritones of our time; visionary music producer and songwriter Berry Gordy brought the quintessential soulfulness of Detroit into every home in America, elevating the Motown sound to become a national treasure; Lorne Michaels created the most enduring ‘must-see television’ with ‘Saturday Night Live,’ a show that is both mirror and muse for life in America; an artistic tour de force and America’s Divine Miss M, Bette Midler has enjoyed an unrivaled and prolific career, entertaining millions with her wondrous voice and trademark comedic wit; and songstress Joni Mitchell, blends raw, deeply personal lyrics with her stunningly ethereal voice in 19 albums, becoming one of the most influential singer-songwriters and cultural figures in 20th-century popular music.”
“This year’s Honorees represent the unifying power of the Arts and surely remind us of that which binds us together as human beings. These artists are equal parts genius, inspiration, and entertainment,” added Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “After the challenges and heartbreak of the last many months, and as we celebrate 50 years of the Kennedy Center, I dare add that we are prepared to throw ‘the party to end all parties’ in D.C. on Dec. 5th, feting these extraordinary people and welcoming audiences back to our campus. We look forward to shaping an even more exciting Honors program and broadcast with CBS and the producers based on the success and newfound innovations of our 43rd Honors earlier this year.”
The 2021 Kennedy Center Honors air Wednesday, December 22 at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times on CBS.