Who will join the ranks of Oprah, Paul McCartney, Morgan Freeman, Diana Ross, Meryl Streep and many others that have shaped American Culture as the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors honorees.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the selection of the seven individuals who will receive the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors. Recipients to be honored at the 35th annual national celebration of the arts are: bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova, and rock band Led Zeppelin. While Led Zeppelin is being honored as a band, keyboardist/bassist John Paul Jones, guitarist Jimmy Page, and singer Robert Plant will each receive the Kennedy Center Honors.

The 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Gala will take place Sunday, December 4 and will be broadcast for the 35th consecutive year on CBS as a two-hour primetime special on Wednesday, December 26 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).