1.1598188-3259840578
Actress and executive producer Queen Latifah participates in a panel for the HBO television show 'Bessie.' Image Credit: REUTERS

Queen Latifah, Smokey Robinson and Trombone Shorty are among the performing artists who will help celebrate the arts at the White House on Wednesday.

They will be joined by Usher, James Taylor, Audra McDonald and others for a PBS special hosted by President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. The event will mark the 50th anniversary of legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Carol Burnett is scheduled to perform special readings.

The latest instalment of the In Performance at the White House series is scheduled for broadcast in January on PBS stations nationwide.

Mrs Obama plans a student workshop with Robinson, Keb’ Mo’, MC Lyte, Esperanza Spalding and others before the evening performance.