The annual Kennedy Center Honors will be bestowed this weekend and Led Zeppelin is among the honorees.

Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein says, "with their extraordinary talent, creativity and tenacity, the seven 2012 Kennedy Center Honorees have contributed significantly to the cultural life of our nation and the world."

He went on to praise Led Zeppelin saying, "John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant transformed the sound of rock and roll with their lyricism and innovative song structures, infusing blues into the sound of rock and roll and laying the foundation for countless rock bands." 

The Kennedy Center website describes the Honors Gala as "the highlight of the Washington cultural year, and ...on Sunday, December 2, in a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage...the 2012 Honorees will be saluted by great performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world.

Seated with the President of the United States and Mrs. Obama, the Honorees will accept the thanks of their peers and fans through performances and heartfelt tributes." 

The President and Mrs. Obama will receive the Honorees at the White House prior to the gala performance. 

Robert Planttold Vh1 Radio how it feels to be bestowed with the honor, he said "Kennedy Center, I mean, everything that we talk about is American from our musical tastes, I think, more or less, and maybe North African and Egyptian or something so the fact that we get this thing to go and meet the most dynamic and charismatic American – Obama – is a great, great privilege.”  

Other recipients to be honored this year are: bluesman Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, and ballerina Natalia Makarova. 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 Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on CBS as a two-hour primetime special on Wednesday, December 26 at 9:00 p.m.