Spielberg leads Kennedy Center honorees

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Famed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg leads this year's list of Kennedy Center Honors recipients for lifetime achievement in the entertainment industry.

The Board of Trustees of Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts revealed Wednesday that the "Saving Private Ryan" director will be honored at a Dec. 3 ceremony along with fellow recipients, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, conductor Zubin Mehta, and singers Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson, said Daily Variety.

All five artists' expansive careers were recommended for recognition by an artists committee and past recipients from the event's 29-year history.

This year's gala is produced by one of its original founders, George Stevens Jr.

Daily Variety reported that all revenue from the program will be donated to variety of charities including public service programming and national outreach efforts.