Conan O’Brien, the former host of The Tonight Show ... in 2002 and 2006 and the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 1995 and 2013. His emcee spot follows Kimmel’s two-year hosting stint ...

"I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien said in a release from The Kennedy Center.

He has emceed other high-profile awards shows, like the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006 and the White House Correspondents´ dinner in 1995 and 2013 ... Late Night with Conan O´Brien,' 'The Tonight ...