President Joe Biden honored the iconic and legendary Empress of Soul Gladys Knight, 78, with the National Medal of Arts Tuesday evening.
The ceremony recognized those who have contributed to the nation with their work and talents. The award honored Knight’s musical influence on all genres of music, from pop and gospel to R&B.
While introducing the honorees, Biden would give a speech about each person and their impact on the country. When he got to Knight, he called her the “Empress of Soul” and told her he was her biggest fan.
“Gladys, as I said before, you’re truly one of the best things ever to happen, in terms of music. I’m a fan,” the president said.
Knight donned a hot pink suit with a half-up-half-down hairstyle. She also wore silver hoop earrings and black thick-rimmed glasses.
When called to the stage to accept the medal, the announcer informed the audience that the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer’s “exceptional talent influenced musical genres…and inspired generations of artists, captivated by her soundtrack of a golden age in American music.”
As Knight departed the stage, an audience member remarked, “Amen.”
The medal isn’t Knight’s first prestigious award. In 1996, singer Mariah Carey inducted Gladys Knight and The Pips into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Knight is a seven-time Grammy Award-winner with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Awards from the BET Awards, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Soul Train Awards.
As Sis2Sis reported, last year, the “If I Were Your Woman” songstress was named a recipient of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors.
“I’m humbled beyond words to be included amongst this prestigious group of individuals, both past and present.” Knight said. “You could never have told me as a young girl starting my career that I would be honored on a stage such as this, with artists and humanitarians such as these—it just wouldn’t have seemed possible.”
