Barbra Streisand got more than a Kennedy Center Honor in Washington Sunday — a kiss from President Bush, which she likely wasn’t a big fan of.

Streisand was a visitor at the White House just before one of Washington’s most star-studded events. As Bush went down the line of people to greet, he leaned in and gave Babs a peck on the cheek, which she returned — slightly awkward, given the fact that the actress and singer is a vocal critic of the president and the way he has handled the Iraq war. She has also been a staunch supporter of Barack Obama.

"Art transcends politics this weekend," the Brooklyn-born Democrat Streisand said before the event. "He’s very warm and funny," she added.

But apparently not all politics was forgotten. Streisand said it would have been "lovely" if she could have received the award while the president-elect was in office instead — or, she quickly added, Bill Clinton. The video of the kiss was replayed later during the event gala, and got a round of laughs.

The two-time Academy Award winner once actually described Bush as "an alien sent here to destroy the Earth.” She has also said Bush "stole" the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

Other recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors this year are actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who. The yearly awards recognize exemplary lifetime achievement of individuals in the performing arts who help define American culture through their work. 

Queen Latifah opened the tribute to Streisand and her 40-year career, saying she "threw out the rule book" to chart her own career, and called her "passionate, fearless and funny.”

“No wonder the artists of my generation want to be like Barbra," she added.

Actress Glenn Close thanked Streisand, 66, for her "audacity." Tony-winning Idina Menzel from Broadway’s "Rent" and "Wicked" sang "Don’t Rain on My Parade" from Streisand’s 1964 musical "Funny Girl” – adding, "Hey there, Ms. Streisand, I am your biggest fan."

Actress Lily Tomlin helped salute Tharp, 67, who was recognized for changing “the face of American dance.” So far in her career, Tharp has created 135 dances, choreographed five movies, written two bestselling books, won a Tony Award (for her work on Billy Joel’s dance musical Movin’ Out) and a couple of Emmys, received 19 honorary doctorates, founded her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance, and  choreographed for many other companies, including the New York City Ballet.