In a ceremony at the White House today, President Joe Biden will hand out National Medals of Arts and Humanities to recipients recognized as part of the 2022 and 2023 honors roll, who were revealed this morning. Among them are musicians Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez, Herb Ohta, Jr., Idina Menzel, and, posthumously, Selena Quintanilla. Filmmakers including Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Aaron Sorkin will also receive medals.
The medal is “the highest award given to artists, arts patrons, and groups by the United States Government and honors exemplary individuals and organizations that have advanced the arts in America and offered inspiration to others through their distinguished achievement, support, or patronage,” according to the White House.
Before today, the latest honorees, announced last year, were the 2021 class, including Bruce Springsteen, Gladys Knight, and José Feliciano.