Empress of Soul Gladys Knight and Queen of Disco Donna Summer are among the music royals who will see their indeliable legacies recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the GRAMMYs this year.
Bestowed to artists who “have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording,” the iconic divas will join legendary performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, and more on the exclusive list of acts who have received the prestigious honor over the years.
Beyond Knight and Summer, look inside to see who else made the cut for the 2024 class.
“First Ladies of Gospel” The Clark Sisters, N.W.A., Tammy Wynette, and Laurie Anderson round out the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients to have their careers toasted by the Recording Academy.
“The Academy is honored to pay tribute to this year’s Special Merit Award recipients — a remarkable group of creators and industry professionals whose impact resonates with generations worldwide,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Their contributions to music span genres, backgrounds and crafts, reflecting the rich diversity that fuels our creative community. We look forward to honoring these music industry trailblazers next month as part of our week-long celebration leading up to Music’s Biggest Night.”
The 66th annual GRAMMY Awards will air live on CBS on February 4.
Ahead of the show, click here to see who will go head-to-head in the competitive categories.
I wish they would have recognized the accomplishments of DONNA SUMMER while she was still alive, but this will mean a great deal to her three daughters, husband, Bruce Sudano, and Donna’s sisters, Mary Ellen, Linda, and Dara. Donna broke records in the music industry, and some of those records remain the record – the only artist to have three #1 double-albums back-to-back-back. And, the female artist who holds out the longest note on a top 10 hit record with Dim All the Lights. Prior to the release of “Dim All the Lights”, Summer had released “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls” and, later, the “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” duet with Barbra Streisand, all of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. “Dim All the Lights” also became another massive hit for her. Overseas, it peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart. Like “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls” before, Summers’ “Dim All the Lights” and “No More Tears” were simultaneously in the top three. Summer was the first female artist to achieve that feat.[2]
Gladys Knight is also a deserving recipient. She is amazing and still pleases audiences with her vocal talent and ability to bring people together to sing as a choir.
Congrats legends
Well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award for Donna Summer. Not Only a Disco Queen but a Versatil Singer able to sing any Genre.