Stephen King, Sally Field among National Medal of Arts honorees

Writer Stephen King, Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field and famed tenor George Shirley are all headed to the White House as recipients of the 2014 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal. 

{mosads}President Obama will present the medals next Thursday at a ceremony in the East Room that will also be attended by first lady Michelle Obama, according to the White House.

Field is being recognized for her “contributions as an actress and filmmaker,” in citations provided by the White House.

“The dignity, empathy, and fearlessness of her performances have touched audiences around the world, and she has deployed those same qualities off-screen in her advocacy for women, LGBT rights, and public health,” a White House advisory notes of Field.

Horror writer King has “terrified and delighted audiences around the world” with his books, while 81-year-old Shirley, the first African-American tenor to sing in a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera, is called both “a pioneer” and “a teacher.”

In all, 21 individuals and organizations will be honored at the Sep. 10 event. The list also includes chef and author Alice Waters and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein.