Bill Maher will win the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain humor prize following White House denial - AP News

Bill Maher will receive the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, one of the nation's most prestigious awards for comedians. The announcement comes after the White House initially denied or declined to formally recognize the honor, according to AP reporting. The Mark Twain Prize, awarded by the Kennedy Center, honors artists whose work has enriched American culture through comedy. Maher, known for his long-running HBO show "Real Time," joins a selective group of past recipients recognized for lifetime achievement in comedy. The timing of the announcement and the White House's initial position suggests potential tension over the selection, though specific reasons for any denial were not detailed.