Kennedy Centre Honours’ awards programme honoured singers Neil Diamond and Barbara Cook, jazz great Sonny Rollins, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
"Anybody who saw The French Lieutenant’s Woman had a crush on her," Sky News quoted Obama as saying.
Obama also paid tribute to the cellist Ma - who has been playing since the age of four - with a topical quip, suggesting he could learn a thing or two from the world-renowned cellist.
"Maybe the most amazing thing about Yo-Yo Ma is that everybody likes him," he said.
"You’ve got to give me some tips," he added.
