The Presidential Medal of Freedom will be awarded to 21 recipients during a live presentation at the White House on Nov. 22, and among those honored will be Diana Ross, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Ellen DeGeneres.
President Barack Obama named the recipients on Wednesday, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Those honored are individuals who are viewed as having made great contributions to the “security or national interests of the United States, world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” during their lifetime, People magazine noted.
“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor – it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better,” Obama said in a statement.
“From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way,” he added.
This will be the last time Obama will present this medal to some of the world’s most honorable people, as the President-elect, Donald Trump, will be sworn into office in January, The New York Times noted.
DeGeneres reacted to the award on Twitter.
Other recipients for this year’s Medal of Freedom, include Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill and Melinda Gates, Bruce Springsteen, and Cicely Tyson, Whitehouse.gov noted.
The event can be live-streamed at www.whitehouse.gov/live.
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