Musicians Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight and Jose Feliciano will receive medals for their work during a White House ceremony on Tuesday.

They are among 21 people and organizations to receive the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal for 2021 – awards that recognize contributions to the arts and humanities. (The awards were delayed for a year because of the pandemic.)

Actors Mindy Kaling and Julia Louis-Dreyfus will receive medals, as well fashion designer Vera Wang, and writers Richard Blanco, Ann Patchett, Bryan Stevenson, Amy Tan, and Colson Whitehead.

Biden will also recognize Fred Eychaner for his contributions to dance, architecture, arts education and LGBTQI+ advocacy. Eychaner is a major donor to the Democratic party.

Biden previously gave the National Humanities Medal to Sir Elton John in September 2022 at a special White House performance.

Here is the full list of winners:

National Medal of Arts

  • Judith Francisca Baca, artist
  • Fred Eychaner, philanthropist
  • Jose Feliciano, musician
  • Mindy Kaling, actor
  • Gladys Knight, musician
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus, actor
  • Antonio Martorell-Cardona, painter
  • Joan Shigekawa, producer and arts administrator
  • Bruce Springsteen, musician
  • Vera Wang, designer
  • The Billie Holiday Theatre
  • The International Association of Blacks in Dance

National Humanities Medal

  • Richard Blanco, writer
  • Johnnetta Betsch Cole, anthropologist
  • Walter Isaacson, writer
  • Earl Lewis, historian
  • Henrietta Mann, Native American academic
  • Ann Patchett, writer
  • Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and activist
  • Amy Tan, writer
  • Tara Westover, writer
  • Colson Whitehead, writer
  • Native America Calling, radio show
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

300x250 Ad

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate