The 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom awards were announced last week, earning Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross from the music world the nation’s highest honor.
Did you know that previous winners include Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, each Beatle, Pearl Bailey, Count Basie, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, B. B. King, Kate Smith, Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Andre Previn, Shirley Bassey, Julie Andrews, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Cliff Richard, David Bowie, Bob Geldof, and Bono?
The first President to name such honorees was John F. Kennedy, who did so a month before his death. Lyndon B. Johnson stepped in to perform the ceremony at the White House.
—
Photo credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com