>> NOW TO THE PRIZE OF A LIFETIME.

EVEN FOR THE MOST STAR-STUDDED OF PERFORMERS.

OPERA STAR FLEMING WAS AWARDED THE KENNEDY CENTER HONOR ALONG WITH BILLIE CRYSTAL, AND MANY MORE.

THE GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER TALKS WITH MICHELLE MARTIN ABOUT THE MEANINGFUL MOMENT.

HER CAREER, AND HER LOVE OF SCIENCE.

>> RENEE FLEMING, YOU, FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> IT IS WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU HAVE PERFORMED FOR QUEEN OF ENGLAND, THE SINGER OF CHOICE, THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY.

YOU RECEIVED COUNTLESS AWARDS, THE MEDAL OF HONOR, SO, HERE COMES THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS.

YOU CAN BE IS IT JUST LIKE ONE MORE DAY?

WHAT DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS MEAN AT THIS STAGE IN YOUR LIFE?

>> IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SUCH A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KENNEDY CENTER, PARTICIPATING IN FIVE OF THE HONORS AND ATTENDING MANY MORE.

IT IS THE BIGGEST DEAL.

IT IS INCREDIBLE.

FRANKLY, ALL OF US.

I SPENT DAYS WITH THE HONOREES.

THERE IS NOTHING, THERE IS NOTHING HIGHER IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS PUBLIC.

THIS IS THE ONE AWARD THAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL.

IT WAS SO EXHILARATING.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, WHY IS THIS SO MEANINGFUL?

IF THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT, THERE IS NO OTHER THING LIKE IT AND FRANKLY, IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE NOT BEEN CELEBRATING THE PERFORMING ARTS AS MUCH AS WE USED TO.

SO, THIS IS IT.

THIS IS REALLY THE PINNACLE AS FAR AS BEING RECOGNIZED GOES.

DIONNE WARWICK SAID, AFTER A LOVE THESE EARS, WE FINALLY GET RECOGNITION.

I WON'T SAY FINALLY, BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN MY SHARE OF -- BUT THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS.

>> >> SOME OF YOUR SIGNATURE PIECES WERE PERFORMED NOT BY YOUR CONTEMPORARIES BUT BY YOUNG ARTISTS.

I AM WONDERING, DO YOU HAVE A HAND IN THAT?

AND HOW DID THAT FEEL?

>> I PUT FORTH A LIST.

THIS IS PART OF EVERYONE SEGMENT .

YOU SORT OF SAY, THIS IS WHO I KNOW AND THIS IS WHO I LOVE AND THIS IS WHO I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN MY SEGMENT.

I GIVE THEM A LIST OF MY FAVORITE YOUNG SOPRANOS THINKING ONE WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

WHEN I WALKED OUT AND SAW THAT THEY WERE ALL THERE, I JUST ABOUT FAINTED WITH JOY.

THESE ARE WOMEN THAT I HAVE CELEBRATED AND ANYTIME THEY CALL ME, THEY WANT -- FOR THEM.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE BUT, IT IS A JOY TO GIVE BACK IN THAT WAY.

THIS IS TRADITION THAT BELONGS TO THE PRESS CORPS?

THERE ARE MANY OTHER SINGERS AS WELL.

IT REALLY -- AND I AM A NURTURING PERSON.

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN AND YOU DO WHAT I DO, YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO AND YOU WANT TO AND YOU REALLY LOVE THESE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

IT ALSO APPLIES TO YOUNGER ARTISTS.

I LOVE IT AND HAVING.CAMERON REPRESENT -- THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE THING FOR ME AND -- WHO HAVE PROBABLY SANG TOGETHER MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE, SIGOURNEY WEAVER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT., HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT -- AND HOW HAVE YOU SHAPED YOUR CAREER?

YOU HAVE PERFORMED MORE THAN 60 ROLES.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE?

HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT RULES YOU WANTED TO TACKLE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU CANNOT HAVE SUCCESS IN OUR WORLD IF YOU ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN A THE UPPER STAGE.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, IT IS THEIR WHOLE FOCUS.

FOR ME, CHOOSING REP A CHORE, YOU DO WHAT YOU ARE OFFERED.

>> WHEN YOU ARE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, YOU CAN BE A LITTLE MORE PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO PERFORM?

YOU NEED TO BE IN DEMAND TO MAKE THESE CHOICES.

WHEN YOU MAKE IT TO THE TOP, YOU ARE OVERWHELMED WITH PEOPLE REQUESTING FOR YOU TO DO THINGS AND TO COLLABORATE.

THIS IS WHEN WE REALLY -- YOU GIVE ME CLARITY ON HOW TO MAKE THESE CHOICES.

YOU HAVE A TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO -- PROTECTING YOU FROM THIS IS ALL FROM I AM LEAVING MY DREAM.

-- MANY OF THOSE THAT WE KNOW, YOU CHOSE TO.

I JUST WONDERED IF THAT WAS EVER SAID TO YOU.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU DID NOT LISTEN.

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THIS.

>> HONESTLY, I KNOW SINGERS FROM THE PREVIOUS THE GENERATION WHO SIMPLY, ON THEIR OWN, REALIZED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO IT.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF SUPPORT OR HAVE THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO TRAVEL WITH A BABYSITTER SO YOU ARE NOT WORRIED.

WHO IS A STRANGER?

WHO IS WITH MY CHILDREN WHILE I AM PERFORMING?

YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS KIND OF DRIVE.

I AM GOING TO MAKE IT WORK AND I'M GOING TO PACK EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED AND NOT BRING MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN FIT IN OUR FOUR SUITCASES.

MY DAUGHTERS -- THEY HELP ME LEARNED -- LEARN, YOU ARE WHAT I NEED.

MAYBE IF YOU TOYS.

THEY ARE SO ADAPTABLE AND RESILIENT CHILDREN.

THEIR HAPPY.

AS LONG AS THEY ARE WITH YOU AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS A GOOD CASE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE KNOW YOU FOR IS HOW YOU STARTED TO ROAM AROUND OR CROSS GENRES.

YOU STARTED OUT IN JAZZ AND AT SOME POINT MOVED TO OPERA BUT THEN WHEN YOU HAVE THIS ROBUST UPPER CAREER, YOU STARTED TO MOVE INTO OTHER GENRE AGAIN.

HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS TIME AND HOW DID YOU DO IT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT MY DISCOGRAPHY WAS FULL.

I HAD RECORDED THE STANDARD REPERTOIRE IN A NUMBER OF RECORDINGS AND I STARTED THINKING, I AM NOT GOING TO REPEAT ANY OF THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THE PEOPLE -- ABSOLUTELY NOT.

PEOPLE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO BRANCH OUT.

I IGNORED IT AND BY THOUGHT, IT IS MY LIFE.

AND IF IT HURTS ME, IT HURTS MY LEGACY.

SO BE IT.

>> SO YOU PERFORMED ON BROADWAY.

YOU PUT OUT A ROCK COVER ALL BULB AND A JAZZ ALBUM.

YOU PERFORMED ON THE SOUNDTRACK OF "THE SHAPE OF WATER."

BUT HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> CERTAINLY, THE RECORDINGS ARE MY DECISION.

MANY OF THEM COME TO ME SO PETER SAID, WE WANT TO DO THIS ALBUM WITH YOU.

SIMILAR TO WHAT THAT MIDLER HAD DONE.

SO, THAT WAS KIND OF OUT THERE FOR ME TO LOOK AT ROCK MUSIC AND MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THE MUSIC THAT THEY WANTED TO RECORD.

IT WAS A FASCINATING EXPERIENCE AND CERTAINLY, JAZZ AND MUSIC THEATER.

YOU CAN'T GO AFTER THESE THINGS.

YOU NEED TO BE OFFERED THEM.

THOSE ARE FASCINATING.

DOING A PLAY ON BROADWAY, SHORT- LIVED AS IT WAS, IT WAS MORE FUN.

LORD OF THE RINGS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE SOUNDTRACKS.

MY DAUGHTER SAID RECENTLY, WHY ARE YOU NOT SINGING THIS?

YOU ARE THE VOICE OF GOLLUM AT THE END OF THE THIRD FILM AND YOU DON'T SING IT.

AND I SAID, I STARTED PERFORMING IT.

SOME SINGERS SAY, HOW DID YOU GET THESE FILMS?

AND THEY SAID, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN PURSUE.

THEY JUST, YOU GET ASKED AND IT IS REALLY FANTASTIC.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS VERY MUCH SURFACED IS THE ROLE OF ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT USED TO HAVE STIGMA AROUND THEM AND MANY STILL DO.

WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING TO BOTH UNDERSTAND, ALLEVIATE, AND CHAMPION.

HOW DID THAT ALL START?

>> THE ARTS AND HEALTH INTERSECTION -- THEY BECAME INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE I HAD MY OWN ISSUES.

I HAD PAIN OVER THE YEARS AS A DISTRACTION FROM PERFORMANCE PRESSURE.

I AM NOT A NATURAL PERFORMER.

I HAD TO STEEL MYSELF.

I HAD STAGE FRIGHT.

SO, THAT IS HOW I BECAME INTERESTED BUT THEN, WHEN I MET FRANCIS COLLINS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS, I SAID, I AM I THINK KENNEDY CENTER, CAN WE PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR ARTS AND HEALTH, I THINK THE AUDIENCE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LISTENING TO MUSIC OR FEELING EMOTION AROUND THE ARTS.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR FIVE YEARS NOW.

FOR MENTAL HEALTH, OUR SURGEON GENERAL, HAS ACTUALLY DONE, IN A RECENT STUDY, A RELEASED STATE.

MUSIC CAN CREATE ENDORPHINS THAT ARE HEALING AROUND DEPRESSION AND THEY ALLEVIATE THE DEPRESSION THAT WE FEEL.

AND GOES OUT TO NATURE AND CREATING SOMETHING ARTISTIC.

IT HAS DONE WONDERS FOR VETERANS FOR PEOPLE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY AROUND THE CLIMATE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS .

>> >> DO YOU WORRY THAT OPERA IS LOSING ITS PLACE?

>> IT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THE CLASS OF --.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON A GIVEN NIGHT TO MAKE A LARGE OPERA PRODUCTION COME ACROSS.

SINGERS AND SOLOISTS AND THE ORCHESTRA AND EVERYONE BEHIND STAGE.

THE COSTUMES OF THE SETS, IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT AND YOU ARE NOT SELLING OUT EVERY TICKET -- SOME OF THESE PLACES ARE TOO BIG?

FROM THEN FROM WHEN THEY WERE BUILDS, 3000 OR 4000 SEATS WERE APPROPRIATE -- BUT THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE NOW THAT THERE PERFORMING ARTS LOCATIONS ON EVERY BLOCK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

THERE IS A DIEHARD AUDIENCE AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMING IN DROVES.

THE HOURS OF THE PREMIERES AT THE MET LAST YEAR, A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF ATTENDEES WERE IN THE UPPER HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE THIS TITLE?

>> SO, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THE HOURS WERE BASED UPON THE SOURCE MATERIAL AND "VIRGINIA WOOLF."

[ SINGING ] >> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM LOOKING AT THE DATA IS THAT SOMETHING LIKE 40% OF THE AUDIENCE HAD NEVER GONE TO THE OPERA BEFORE.

WHAT YOU THINK WAS ATTRACTIVE TO THEM?

>> IT HAD TO BE THE TITLE.

IT COULD BE THERE WERE THREE LEADING SOPRANOS IN THE THREE MAIN ROLES.

WE ARE MIXING GENRES AGAIN.

PEOPLE PROBABLY KNEW THAT THERE WAS SUBJECT MATTER IN THIS PIECE.

WEATHER LGBTQ ISSUES OR SUICIDE OR CERTAINLY MENTAL HEALTH.

THERE WERE RELEVANT SUBJECTS IN THE OFFICE AND THIS IS WHY I KEEP SAYING WE NEED MORE THAN WERE THAT SPEAKS TO ISSUES THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN MEET BE MOVED BY IT OR EXCITED BY IT.

BUT REALLY, IT SHOULD BE MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CARE ABOUT.

THERE IS SO MUCH NEW WORK.

-- SHOWED UP IN MY BONES.

MALCOM MADDOX WAS JUST VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THE OPERA HAS A PIECE ON -- THAT IS COMPLETELY SOLD OUT.

BREANNA GIBBONS WROTE A PIECE THAT ONE A PULITZER PRIZE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TYPICALLY IN THE UPPER WORLD, THEY WANT TO SEE.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOURS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE MET IS BRINGING IT BACK AGAIN.

NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> AND OTTO MOST NEVER HAPPENS.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> NOT THIS QUICKLY.

THE TURNAROUND FOR THIS COMPANY IS FOUR YEARS.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW PETER DID IT.

HE MOVED HEAVEN AND EARTH.

AND WE ARE ALL DOING IT.

THE SAME CAST.

THAT IS QUITE A HERCULEAN FEET.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF AUDIENCE WE WILL GET THIS TIME AROUND.

>> SO, WHAT IS NEXT?

>> I AM WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

IT WAS A PANDEMIC PROJECT, BECAUSE NATURE SAVED ME.

THIS IS A STUNNING 30 MINUTE FILM THAT I SWARMED TO.

I THINK I WILL BRING THIS TO MANY CITIES IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF AND IT IS REALLY ABOUT, IT IS LARGELY ABOUT LOVING THE PLANET AND FINDING WAYS TO PROTECT IT.

WE SHARED THEIR INITIATIVES AND WE ENCOURAGE AUDIENCE MEMBERS, WE ARE NOT BEATING THEM OVER THE HEAD WITH THE BAD NEWS EVERY DAY.

IT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PLAN OF.

>> BEFORE WE GO, IN CASE ANY UP- AND-COMING ARTISTS ARE LISTENING, DO YOU HAVE ADVICE FOR THEM?

>> I JUST ANNOUNCED THE GRANTS FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND YOUNG SCIENTISTS.

IT IS A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN COMBINING THESE CREATIVE MINDS.

SCIENCE IS CREATIVE IN A SIMILAR WAY TO ART.

AND ARTISTS.

WE ALL HAVE A HYPOTHESIS AND WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND CREATE AND MAKE.

THAT IS AN EXCITING THING BUT FOR YOUNG PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS IN GENERAL, I WOULD SAY, WE HAVE NEVER NEEDED YOU MORE THAN WE DO NOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE.

>> WHAT AN INCREDIBLE VOICE AND