Missy Elliott Feels 'Humbly Grateful' to Receive National Medal of Arts at White House with Queen Latifah and Others

Mar. 15, 2025

Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 21, 2024.Photo:Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Missy ElliottandQueen Latifahcan add “Presidential award recipient” to their resumes!

On Monday, Oct. 21, PresidentJoe Bidenhanded out theNational Medal of Arts and National Humanitieshonors at the White House. Among those recipients included Elliott and Latifah, the first rappers to be given the honor.

Elliott took toX (formerly Twitter)to express her excitement of receiving the prestigious award, writing, “I am HUMBLY GRATEFUL! Crying Tears of JOY! Thinking of the days I wasn’t so strong but through FAITH & PRAYER I kept going.”

“And a BiG CONGRATS to my sis @IAMQUEENLATIFAH who deserve all the bouquets she also was honored today! Thank you for kicking down doors QUEEN for me & those after you,” the 53-year-old “Work It” emceewrotein another post.

Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah in March 2003.Alex Berliner/Berliner Studio/BEImages

Alex Berliner/Berliner Studio/BEImages

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Steven Spielberg in Los Angeles on Oct. 19, 2024, Spike Lee in London on Feb. 13, 2024, and Ken Burns in New York on Sept. 25, 2024.Emma McIntyre/Getty; Joseph Okpako/WireImage; Gary Gershoff/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty; Joseph Okpako/WireImage; Gary Gershoff/Getty

The 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities honors were presented at the same ceremony after COVID-19 caused the original events to be postponed.

Among 2022’s recipients includedIdina Menzel,Eva Longoria, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and a posthumous award to visual artist Ruth Asawa. Recipients for 2023 included filmmakersKen Burns,Steven SpielbergandSpike Lee, film producer Bruce Cohen and singerSelena Quintanilla.

Selena Quintanilla at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards on March 1, 1994.Arlene Richie/Getty

Arlene Richie/Getty

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, said in a statement on the National Medal of Arts’website, “The arts enrich our lives, helping us to ask questions, imagine new possibilities, and create community."

Jackson further noted that the recipients shared a “curiosity, creativity, hard work, and dedication” that “inspired and touched so many in our country and around the globe.” According to the NEA, the honorees were chosen for their “outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.”

source: people.com