Missy Elliott Awarded National Medal of Arts

President Joe Biden awarded Missy Elliott with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.

The groundbreaking rapper, singer, and producer was honored at a ceremony held at the White House on Monday (October 21st), recognizing the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients.

Elliott was among the 2022 recipients alongside actress/singer Idina Menzel and actress/director Eva Longoria. Notable 2023 recipients included Queen Latifah, Selena, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. See the full list of honorees here.

Last year, Bruce Springsteen was given his Medal of the Arts as part of the 2021 class that included Gladys Knight, Jose Feliciano, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mindy Kaling, and more.

The National Medal of Arts is Elliott’s latest accolade. In November 2023, she became the first female rapper to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.