Pick a Day

Music History Events: Awards and Honors

December 3, 2017 LL Cool J, 49, becomes the youngest person to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, and the first rapper to do so.

August 28, 2016 At the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé wins Video of the Year for "Formation." In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, she brings four mothers of shooting victims with her onto the red carpet. By the end of the evening, Bey (along with her production designer, choreographer, director, cinematographer and editor) has eight trophies.More

November 4, 2015 Chris Stapleton has a big night at the CMA Awards, winning New Artist Of The Year, Male Vocalist Of The Year, and Album Of The Year for Traveller, his solo debut. He also mesmerizes the crowd with a performance of "Tennessee Whiskey" with Justin Timberlake that goes viral.

February 10, 2013 Mumford & Sons win their first Grammy Award when their sophomore album, Babel (2012), is named Album of the Year. The album's lead single, "I Will Wait," is also nominated for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, while "Learn Me Right," a collaboration with Birdy for the Disney-Pixar film Brave is considered for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

April 27, 2012 Bob Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded to a United States civilian citizen, from US President Barack Obama. Dylan is only the 29th musician to receive the award; previous recipients include Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Irving Berlin.

April 21, 2012 Keith Urban becomes the first Australian inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and also the first born outside of North America.

October 11, 2011 Esquire names Rihanna the Sexiest Woman Alive. She's the only musician ever to win the award, which they bestow from 2004-2015. Other winners include Minka Kelly and Halle Berry.More

February 27, 2011 Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and frequent collaborator Atticus Ross win an Academy Award for Best Original Score for their work on The Social Network.

February 13, 2011 Mumford & Sons are nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rock Song ("Little Lion Man") at the Grammy Awards. The British folk-rock act don't win any trophies, but their performance of "The Cave" generates a huge buzz and boosts sales of their debut album, Sigh No More, in the US, where it peaks at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

July 25, 2010 John Fogerty performs "Centerfield" at the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, where he donates a guitar shaped like a baseball bat.More

December 6, 2009 President Obama greets honorees Bruce Springsteen and Robert DeNiro during the reception for the Kennedy Center Honors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.

July 10, 2009 Robert Plant is officially a Commander of the British Empire after being bestowed with the title by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

April 14, 2009 Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Olivia Harrison and Dhani Harrison hit the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles to take part in the ceremony honoring George Harrison with his very own star in Hollywood.

April 4, 2009 At the Public Hall in Cleveland, Jeff Beck, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Metallica, Run-DMC and Bobby Womack are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

March 29, 2009 Nickelback rule the Juno Awards, winning Album of the Year, Group of the Year and the Fan Choice Award.

March 26, 2009 Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy hosts the MTV Australia Awards. His band wins Best Rock Video for "I Don't Care," while Pink's "So What" takes Best Video.

February 22, 2009 A.R. Rahman wins Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Song for "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire, earning the Bollywood music veteran his first two Oscars. The Pussycat Dolls release an English-language version, "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)," the same year.

February 12, 2009 At the 40th NAACP Image Awards, will.i.am's pro-Obama anthem "Yes We Can" wins in the Best Music Video and Best Song categories while Jennifer Hudson takes home three Awards, including Best New Artist.

February 8, 2009 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are the big winners at the Grammy Awards, taking Album Of The Year for their collaboration Raising Sand and Record Of The Year for "Please Read the Letter." Lil Wayne wins four awards, and Adele takes Best New Artist, banishing any curse associated with that award.

January 19, 2009 The blind guitarist Jeff Healey wins Entertainer Of The Year at the Maple Blues Awards in Toronto thanks to his debut album, See The Light, which includes the hit "Angel Eyes."

January 7, 2009 At the People's Choice Awards, Carrie Underwood is the night's big winner, taking home the Favorite Female Singer, Country Song ("Last Name") and Favorite Star Under 35 Awards. Rascal Flatts takes the award for Favorite Group.

September 18, 2008 The Village People get a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 6529 Hollywood Blvd.

September 10, 2008 Abingdon Street in Peoria, Illinois, is designated "Fogelberg Parkway" after their native son Dan Fogelberg. The street is where the events of his song "Same Old Lang Syne" took place.

September 7, 2008 MTV makes up for trotting out a lethargic Britney Spears to open their previous year's Video Music Awards by giving her three awards for "Piece Of Me." Kanye West also debuts "Love Lockdown" on the show.

July 10, 2008 VH1's Rock Honors pays tribute to The Who.

June 15, 2008 Lionel Richie is given a TV Land Icon Award by the cable network.

May 26, 2008 Yale University awards Paul McCartney an honorary Doctorate of Music.

May 13, 2008 Frank Sinatra gets his own stamp 10 years after his death. The 42 cent stamp features a young Sinatra in a snappy suit and fedora.

February 22, 2008 After much controversy and debate over whether or not to honor recently deceased musician and Mississippi native Ike Turner, the state legislature compromises and passes a resolution that honors his musical achievements only.

February 21, 2008 Crystal Gayle is inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.