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Obama leads birthday salute to Ted Kennedy

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-09 08:55

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama led a Kennedy Center crowd in a performance of "Happy Birthday" Sunday night, capping a star-studded musical birthday tribute to ailing Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., right, laughs with US  first lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, and Vice-President Joe Biden during a musical birthday salute to Kennedy at The Kennedy Center Sunday, March 8, 2009, in Washington. [Agencies]

The Massachusetts Democrat was honored at the Kennedy Center at an event hosted by comedian Bill Cosby. Actresses Lauren Bacall and Bernadette Peters, singer James Taylor and conductor John Williams were among those who performed.

Toward the end of the gala, Cosby introduced Obama to loud applause from the performers and the audience. The president strode to the center of the stage and then conducted the performers in the birthday tune. Kennedy stood and waved from his balcony, where he was joined by first lady Michelle Obama.

The president later met Kennedy in his box and the performers sang "The Best Is Yet to Come."

The 77-year-old Kennedy is battling brain cancer. He returned to Washington for a White House health care summit last week from Florida where he has been continuing his treatment and physical rehabilitation.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after he had a seizure last May.