King and Buddy Guy are only a few of the big names who have reinterpreted his work.

NPR: John Hiatt And Robert Earl Keen On World Cafe

King and Buddy Guy are among the gaggle of guitarists scheduled to perform this time around.

WSJ: The Last Tour? | A Cultural Conversation With Eric Clapton | By Jim Fusilli

Blues musician Buddy Guy and Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova will also be recognised at the gala in December.

BBC: Hoffman and Led Zep to be honoured by Kennedy Center

Billy Joel did New York State of Mind, and Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy ran through a taught Hoochie Coochie Man.

FORBES: The Night The Who Saved New York

King, Howlin' Wolf and Buddy Guy.

NPR: Blues Queen Koko Taylor Dies At 80

Honorees this year included actor Dustin Hoffman, late night host David Letterman, Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova, Chicago blues musician Buddy Guy, and the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

FORBES: Heart's Ann Wilson Kills Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' At Kennedy Center Honors

The Rolling Stone received perhaps the most sustained standing ovation of the night as he joined his old pal toward the end of Crossroads, a two-night concert festival at Madison Square Garden that brought together a dazzling array of guitar masters, from John Mayer to Jeff Beck to legends like Buddy Guy, and of course, Clapton and Richards.

NPR: Richards Joins Clapton At Crossroads Festival

Previous winners include rock legend George Harrison, singer and composer Joni Mitchell and blues man Buddy Guy.

CNN: The Hollywood Minute

Other highlights a performance by blues great Buddy Guy an a set from Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Albert Lee.

NPR: Richards Joins Clapton At Crossroads Festival

The seven artists set to receive the honor are actor Dustin Hoffman, musician George "Buddy" Guy, late night TV host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova and John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, all of rock band Led Zepellin.

CNN: Kennedy Center Honors snub Latinos