Paul McCartney Oprah Winfrey Among Kennedy Center Honors Honorees 2010

Musician Paul McCartney and Queen of Talk Oprah Winfrey will be among five honorees celebrated at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors this December.

The TV host and actress, who kicks off the 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show this monh, will be honored at the 33rd annual event in Washington on Dec. 5, along with the ex-Beatle; dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones; country singer-songwriter Merle Haggard; and Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman, The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees said Tuesday.

“I love surprising people, I don’t like being surprised,” Oprah, 56, said Tuesday. “Releasing any kind of control over a show and allowing myself to sit there and be surprised is not going to be easy but I’m willing to do that.”

McCartney had been named to receive the Kennedy Center Honors in 2002, but backed out due to a personal obligation.

The Kennedy Center Honors recognize performing artists for their contributions to American culture. President and Mrs. Obama will be on hand to present this year’s awards.

The 2010 Kennedy Center Honors will air as part of a two-hour primetime special on CBS Dec. 28.