Neil Diamond's Kennedy Center tribute a boost to Fenway fans

(CBS) The televised tribute to Neil Diamond, one of five Kennedy Center honorees for 2011, was also a tribute, in part to baseball fans in Boston, where Diamond's song "Sweet Caroline," is an eighth inning staple at Red Sox games.

Pictures: 2011 Kennedy Center Honors
Read more: The 34th Kennedy Center honors

Red Sox banners adorned a set of bleachers on which the muppet Elmo, the Red Sox mascot and singers dressed like fans were perched. Smokey Robindson, himself a previous year's honoree, sang the song, with backup from Caroline Kennedy, for whom the song was written, Lionel Richie and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.

Also honored in the two hour TV special on CBS, taped earlier this month at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., were Oscar winner Meryl Streep, jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Broadway star Barbara Cook.

Kennedy hosted the ceremony, named for her father, the late President John F. Kennedy. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, who were in the audience, hosted a reception for the honorees at the White House before the ceremony.