It's tough finding some equivalents for Americans. These are the best I could find:

Kennedy Center Honors
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history/

The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
http://www.grammy.com/awards/lifetime.html

Presidential Medal of Freedom
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/07/20020709-8.html
Latest news: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0719medaloffreedom19.html
(There are some deserving people here, but Irving Kristol? Nancy Reagan? Charlton Heston? Gimme a break!)