Sir Elton John gets National Humanities Medal from US President Joe Biden. See details

Legendary singer Sir Elton John was awarded the National Humanities Medal on Saturday for his contributions in fighting against AIDS. US President Joe Biden handed the award to Elton for his charitable work in keeping a tab over the deadly disease through Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The 75-year-old icon established the foundation in 1982, which has played a pivotal role in the fight against the disease. The singer was awarded the coveted medal at White House on Saturday night, following his performances of classic hits like Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me. The singer was invited to the White House for A Night When Hope and History Rhyme event, where John was surprised to receive the award from the POTUS and the First Lady, Jill Biden.





In his acceptance speech, Elton said that he had started the foundation at his Atlanta home with the intention to support everyone suffering from AIDS and assured that he would be committed in this mission for life. He added that his fight would continue to ensure that all people, regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnicity, got an opportunity to live an AIDS-free life without any stigma or maltreatment.

Elton’s spouse, David Furnish, who serves as the chairman of Elton John AIDS Foundation, was also present at the event. David said that Elton was the one whose words matched his actions and that he truly deserved the award. He further added that Elton had advocated equality throughout his career, especially through the foundation.

The National Humanities Medal is an American national honour awarded to individuals, groups and institutions for their excellence in positively impacting humanity. Earlier known as the Charles Frankel Prize, the medal has been actively awarded since 1989, and some of its prominent recipients include Willard Boyd (1989), Jhumpa Lahiri (2014), M.H. Abrams (2013) and Steven Spielberg (1999).

FAQs

1. Why did Elton win the award?
   Sir Elton John won the National Humanities Medal for his contributions in the fight against AIDS through Elton John AIDS Foundation.
2. Who handed over the award to Elton?
   US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden handed over the award to Elton.