By ASHRAF KHALIL
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony honoring lifetime artistic achievement featured multiple tributes to former President George H.W. Bush, who died Friday night at age 94.

The night kicked off with an extended standing ovation in Bush's memory at the request of hostess Gloria Estefan, who described Bush as "a wonderful man who dedicated his life to service." President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump did not attend for the second straight year.

This year's honorees for lifetime achievements in the arts were Cher, composer Philip Glass, country music legend Reba McEntire and jazz icon Wayne Shorter. An unprecedented special award went to the co-creators of "Hamilton" for their genre-bending musical.

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