People

By Guy D. Garcia

Champagne flowed like tears at the Ninth Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, where praise bubbled as high as emotions. "We've been crying the whole weekend," confessed Lucille Ball, 75, who was feted along with Singer Ray Charles, 56, Actors Hume Cronyn, 75, and Jessica Tandy, 77, Violinist Yehudi Menuhin, 70, and Choreographer Antony Tudor, 78. A galvanizing high point of the gala (which will be shown on cbs next week) came with the singing of America, the Beautiful by the choir of Charles' alma mater, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, joined by Stevie Wonder. Charles was "tremendously touched" by the moment and thrilled by the whole event. "Never, ever, in my career have I gone someplace where people purposely, directly entertained me," he said with some awe. Ball was especially moved by tender remembrances of her late former husband and partner Desi Arnaz. The weekend-long celebration "was the epitome -- the absolute epitome," she said. "I hope I never get another award, because nothing can ever top it."