Singer Jessica Simpson became a show spoiler after bungling a tribute performance of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 at the gala for Kennedy Center honourees, including Parton, Steven Spielberg, Smokey Robinson, Zubin Mehta and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Simpson had to rely on cue cards to belt out the song, the theme from the 1980 movie of the same name starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

"Dolly, you make me so nervous I can't even sing the words right," Simpson said before leaving the stage. Parton looked displeased as Simpson exited in tears.

The 2006 Kennedy Center honourees are, left to right: Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
(J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Simpson may have been overwhelmed by the high-powered audience at the Washington, D.C., centre, which included Senator Ted Kennedy and actors Sidney Poitier, Reese Witherspoon and Joan Collins. Her younger sister Ashlee had a similar singing meltdown in 2004 during the television show Saturday Night Live.

Country singer Reba McEntire saved the day with her speech reminding the audience how the 60-year-old singer and songwriter changed Nashville.

"Once upon a time, a woman in Nashville was told what song to sing, in what clothes," she said. "Because of Dolly we've been writing, producing and singing our own music for some time now."

Parton is a media mogul who owns her own production company, creating TV shows and films. Her records have sold 100 million copies worldwide. Some of her best-known songs include Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You.

A diverse galaxy of stars from Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin paid tribute to the other honourees.

The gala on Sunday evening marked a weekend of events for the five superstars, honoured for their contributions to the arts in the U.S.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, arrive at a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for Kennedy Centre honourees.
(J. Scott Applewhite/ Associated Press)

Hanks and fellow actor Liam Neeson paid homage to Spielberg, the man behind Jaws, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List.

Veterans from the Second World War and a Holocaust survivor were also on stage to praise the 58-year-old director for "showing it exactly as it … happened."

Singer Aretha Franklin appeared on stage to speak about Robinson's contributions to American culture.

"This beautiful, kind, kind man wrote and sang poetically and unself-consciously about love … redefining popular music in the '60s, using the connective power of song to break down the barriers of black and white."

The Detroit-born Robinson was a member of the bestselling Motown group The Miracles. He has 70 Top 40 hits under his belt — including My Girl, The Tracks of My Tears, I Second that Emotion and Tears of a Clown — and once served as Motown records' vice-president.

"I'm so honoured and so flattered to get this because it not only deals with your craft; they attach what impact you have on humanity to this," said Robinson at a reception with U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura just prior to the evening event.

First Indian honouree

Mehta is the first Indian honouree. The 70-year-old conductor was described by violinist Itzhak Perlman as "what we call in Yiddish a mensch" — someone who is worthy and full of good deeds.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed, accompanied by violinist Pinchas Zuckerman, who is the artistic director of Canada's National Arts Centre orchestra.

Mehta's career has taken him all over the world, leading the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.

Sarah Brightman, who has performed in several Andrew Lloyd Webber shows and was once married to the composer, told the audience: "At this very moment somewhere in the world, the curtain is going up on an Andrew Lloyd Webber show."

The London-born Webber, 58, is responsible for the music for Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. He has won seven Tony Awards and three Grammy Awards as well as an International Emmy.

The show will be broadcast on Dec. 26 on CBS.