The Kennedy Center announced the recipients of this year’s honors in September—which include soul legend Al Green, screen legend Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, pop star Sting, and comedienne Lily Tomlin—and now they’ve announced the host who will make fun of them all: Stephen Colbert.

“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes excellence on a national stage and we are pleased that a man of Stephen’s accomplishment will host the show,” Honors co-producer George Stevens, Jr. said in a statement. “He is best in class and will no doubt undo any solemnity that might otherwise attend the occasion.”

Indeed, the actor/comedian, who is best known as the host of The Colbert Show on Comedy Central, and will soon take over hosting duties from David Letterman for The Late Show, will certainly make this year’s Honors lively. Case in point: his statement:

“I am stunned to be receiving a Kennedy Center Honor at such a young age. I thought it would be years before… I’m sorry. I’m being told I am HOSTING the Kennedy Center Honors. Oh…Well, I’m glad. That makes a lot more sense.”

The Kennedy Center Honors will be held on Sunday, December 7 and will be recorded for broadcast on CBS for a primetime special on Tuesday, December 30th at 9 p.m.