Diana Ross, joined by her children (in background), accepts the lifetime achievement award during the BET Awards, June 26, in Los Angeles. Ross has been named a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honours of 2007. - AP

WASHINGTON (AP):

Pianist Leon Fleisher, actor-comedian Steve Martin, singers Diana Ross and Brian Wilson, and film director Martin Scorsese will share the 30th annual honours of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in December.

"With their extraordinary talent, creativity and perseverance, the five 2007 honourees have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear and feel the performing arts," Kennedy Center chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman said Tuesday in announcing the honourees. "We will forever be thankful for the great gift they have shared with us."

Bush to host honourees

President George W. Bush and the first lady will host the honourees December 2, before attending a gala performance and supper dance at the Kennedy Center. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will present the honours at a State Department dinner the night before.

The Kennedy Center honours will be recorded and broadcast December 26 for the 30th consecutive year on CBS as a two-hour prime-time special.

The honours recognise a lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts.

In an interview, Ross said she was honoured to be among so many greats and part of the Kennedy Centre's artistic legacy. She said there is no real secret to her success.

"My life is not really complicated. I try to keep it as simple as possible," she said. "My values are in the right place, I think."

The honourees are chosen from recommendations by the Kennedy Center's national artistes committee, including Anjelica Huston, Kenny Chesney and Melissa Etheridge, and past honorees, such as Carol Burnett and Bill Cosby.