"Art," she said, "transcends politics this weekend."
The singer and actress this year is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.
The honors recognize individuals who have had an impact on American culture through the performing arts, part of the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Jones said there were no strained moments between Streisand and Bush during the reception.
"Everything went so smooth," he said.
After the reception, the group traveled with the president and first lady Laura Bush to the performing arts center for a gala in their honor.
The gala will include the young singer-songwriter Ne-Yo singing Streisand's 1965 hit "Lover, Come Back to Me."
"Barbra Streisand is the epitome of emotion in music. You feel every word, that's something that artists in my day and age don't really pay attention to," he said
