(WASHINGTON) — Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Steven Spielberg and Stephen Sondheim were among the 17 Americans who were honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony on Tuesday.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
President Obama spoke about each recipient, and Streisand was delighted by the remarks. She said to ABC News, “Isn’t he good? He is so spontaneous and so alive and so in the moment. I just love him.”
When asked how she would’ve felt had Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, and not Obama, presented her with her award, Streisand replied, “I probably would’ve choked. It’s almost terrifyingly scary but it’s funny.”
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