The 48th Kennedy Center Honors was chock-filled with many surprises as the annual event recognized five artists from the worlds of acting, music, and the stage for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the arts.
After Trump introduced Stallone in a pre-recorded message — something he did for all the nominees — special guest Kurt Russell took to the stage. Stallone and Russell starred together in 1989’s Tango & Cash, and the Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star shared a few words of praise for his longtime friend.
Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Russell recalled the first time he watched Rocky, which made him ponder: “I wondered out loud, ‘Where in the hell did they find this boxer who is such a great actor?'” (via AARP).
Russell told the audience that “the story of Sly Stallone is the story of the American Dream.” The Big Trouble in Little Tokyo actor also reminisced about their time working together, stating that Stallone “treated me like his little brother. He took care of me.”
It was an emotional night for Sylvester Stallone, who was honored for his five decades of work as a three-time Oscar-nominated actor, writer, and director. He is best known for the Rocky franchise and for portraying the iconic action hero Rambo, roles that cemented his place in Hollywood history.
Singer, songwriter, and actor Frank Stallone also took to the stage to honor his brother with the emotional, “You’ll always be my hero, and I love you so much.”
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors, Tuesday, December 23, 8/7c, CBS and Paramount+
Commented