Yes, the Observer fete had everything, including a British contingent: author Amanda Foreman served on the 2012 judging panel for the esteemed literary award, Man Booker Prize for Fiction, with Dan Stevens.

From his Jean Valjean role in Les Miserables and his generous on-the-spot performances at various celebrations, including a lunch hosted by Ron Meyer, Hugh Jackman is truly a songman you want to have around.

"There is tons of dead time where you're sitting on your ass and the business stinks and you're pissed. The record business is uncertain. Everyone's getting fired, you don't know when your next tour is going to be, you're between labels and a year goes by, there's all that."

Legendary jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis has been accumulating a series of honors, with the upcoming NEA's Jazz Masters Award being one of the most prestigious yet.