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The "Saturday Night Live" star who perfected his character as "President George W. Bush" and later took his presidential act to Broadway received the nation's top humor prize Sunday night in Washington.

As Will Ferrell received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jack Black, Conan O'Brien, Larry King and the rock band Green Day offered tributes and performances in his honor. They were joined by Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon and Lorne Michaels from Ferrell's "SNL" days. The show was taped for broadcast Oct. 31 on PBS stations nationwide.

Black opened the show with a song-and-dance routine for his friend and tried to lead the crowd in chanting "Will, Will, Will, will rock you."

"Will Ferrell, did you notice how I changed it from 'We Will Rock You?" he said.

Earlier this year, Ferrell told The Associated Press why he wanted to be funny.

"The closest I can analyze it is that it was an easy way to make friends, I found out," he said. "It was just a great kind of social tool."

Ferrell is the son of a teacher and Roy Lee Ferrell, a guitarist for the Righteous Brothers. He grew up in Irvine, Calif., went to college at the University of Southern California and got his start in comedy with the Los Angeles improv group, The Groundlings.

That's where he was discovered by "SNL." He starred for seven seasons on the NBC series, with memorable characters that included "Craig the Spartan Cheerleader," a middle school music teacher named "Marty Culp" and impressions of Janet Reno, Alex Trebek and Neil Diamond.

Ferrell went on to make some outlandish movies including "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and "Old School," to name a few. More recently he has tried his hand at drama with this year's independent film "Everything Must Go." He has also made a Spanish-language comedy, "Casa de Mi Padre."

Ferrell told the AP he has tried different avenues as movie studio budgets tightened. He opted for projects with smaller budgets but more creative freedom.

In 2009, Ferrell revived his Bush character with a one-man Broadway show "You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush," which was nominated for a Tony Award. He later performed the show live on HBO.

Longtime collaborator Adam McKay and Ferrell also took their comedy to the Internet with the 2007 creation of the popular video website FunnyorDie.com. Since then, it has drawn an audience of millions for its original Web programming.

Thirteen other people have won the Mark Twain Prize since 1998, including Tina Fey, Bill Cosby, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg It recognizes people who have followed the tradition of Samuel Clemens, the writer known as Mark Twain who used social commentary and satire to have an impact on society.

-- Associated Press

Lynn hospitalized with early stage of pneumonia

Country music singer Loretta Lynn was hospitalized over the weekend with the early stages of pneumonia, according to a representative of the performer.

The 76-year-old Lynn was scheduled to perform Saturday at the Performing Arts Center in Ashland, Ky. and Sunday in Durham, N.C., but the Kentucky center issued a news release saying she is in the hospital and would be unable to perform. The Kentucky theater says the show will be rescheduled.

-- Associated Press

Identical twins give birth same day at same site

Two identical twins in Indiana now have another birthday in common: They delivered babies on the same day at the same hospital.

The Herald-Times reports 21-year-old Jessica and Jennifer Patterson gave birth Wednesday at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital.

Jennifer Patterson gave birth first to a girl, Adalynn Rose Patterson, who was born with a collapsed lung but is now doing fine.

Eight and half hours later, Jessica Patterson gave birth to a boy, Mason Douglas Patterson, by cesarean section.

Jennifer Patterson calls the same-day births "kind of cool." Both women live in the tiny Lawrence County town of Judah.

-- Associated Press

'Paranormal Activity 3' sets horror film record

"Paranormal Activity 3" didn't just go bump in the night. It made a ton of noise at the box office with a record-setting, $54 million opening.

The third film in Paramount Pictures' low-budget fright franchise, which was No. 1 at the box office, had the biggest debut ever for a horror movie, according to Sunday studio estimates. It broke the previous record part two set a year ago with $40.7 million. It's also the biggest opening ever for an October release, topping the $50.35 million Paramount's "Jackass 3D" made last year.

"Paranormal Activity 3" is actually a prequel, with the discovery of disturbing home-movie footage from 1988. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who made the creepy documentary "Catfish," took over directing duties this time.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Paranormal Activity 3," $54 million. ($26 million international.)

2. "Real Steel," $11.3 million. ($18.5 million international.)

3. "Footloose," $10.85 million.

4. "The Three Musketeers," $8.8 million. ($17.1 million international.)

5. "The Ides of March," $4.9 million.

6. "Dolphin Tale," $4.2 million.

7. "Moneyball," $4.05 million.

8. "Johnny English Reborn," $3.8 million. ($13.5 million international.)

9. "The Thing," $3.1 million.

10. "50/50," $2.8 million.

-- Associated Press