Paul McCartney to get US award

Sir Paul McCartney will be presented with a Kennedy Center honour at the White House in December. The former Beatle will receive his honour alongside country star Merle Haggard, composer Jerry Herman, choreographer Bill T Jones and chat show host Oprah Winfrey.

They will each be presented with medallions on December 4 before a state dinner. They will also appear at the gala the following day. Every year, the Kennedy Center for performing arts honours figures that it sees as having contributed to US culture.

According to Kennedy Center chairman David M Rubenstein, the winners of this year’s awards have spent their lives elevating the culture in the US and the rest of the world. He added that Sir Paul’s song writing had changed the perception and creation of music all over the world.

In a statement, Mr McCartney said it was a pleasure for a “kid from Liverpool” to receive an honour named after such an inspiring presidency.

The dinner at which the awards will be handed out will be hosted by secretary of state Hillary Clinton. The winners will also be taken to the White House to meet President Barack Obama the following day.

Other recipients of the honour include Bob Dylan, Robert De Niro and Steven Spielberg. Sir Paul also picked up the Gershwin Prize for Popular song in June from Mr Obama.