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Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were among numerous recipients of this year's National Medals of Arts award.
President Joe Biden presented the groundbreaking rappers with the prestigious medals during a ceremony at the White House on Monday, October 21. In addition to Elliott and Latifah, other esteemed artists including the late Selena Quintanilla as well as famed directors Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, and Ken Burns.
“I am HUMBLY GRATEFUL! Crying Tears of JOY!” Elliott wrote on X. “Thinking of the days I wasn’t so strong but through FAITH & PRAYER I kept going..I’m SO THANKFUL @POTUS & CONGRATULATIONS to the other amazing ppl who was blessed with this honor.”
“And a BIG CONGRATS to my sis @IAMQUEENLATIFAH who deserve all the bouquets she also was honored today! Thank you for kicking down doors QUEEN for me & those after you," she added.
The awards were presented to 39 honorees in total who earned the medals in 2022 and 2023. Last year's event honored those who won the award in 2021. Legendary artists like Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight, and José Feliciano received the medal along with actresses Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Mindy Kaling.
“Above all, you are the masters of your craft that have made us a better America with all of you have done,” President Biden told the latest honorees, per Billboard. He also said their respective victories come at a “very consequential time in the arts and humanities in America [because] extreme forces are banning books, trying to erase history, spreading misinformation.”
Congratulations to all of this year's honorees!