Grateful Dead Earns One Of The Biggest Honors In The Entertainment World

On Thursday (July 18), the list of honorees for the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors was revealed by the organization. The list this year focuses largely on music, with one of the greatest rock bands of all time—according to millions of fans—landing the coveted recognition.

Grateful Dead have been named recipients for the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors. Band members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir will be the ones who take home the accolade, which is bestowed annually, and almost always by the President.

Many other past members of the group are not included in the honor. For example, the late rocker Jerry Garcia’s name won’t be added to the list of artists who have collected this prestigious award, though he will surely be mentioned as speeches are given.

The Kennedy Center announced its list of honorees this year on social media. The organization posted a short video revealing the names, as well as the individual members who will be included. The photo of the Grateful Dead features the four musicians mentioned above.

In the clip, the Kennedy Center refers to the band as “the musical pioneers of American counterculture.” At one time, that description may have been seen as controversial, especially coming from the U.S. government. However, perceptions have drastically changed from the early days of the jam rockers, as they are now being recognized for their significant contributions by some of the most influential figures in Washington.

Alongside the Grateful Dead, three other artists will also be honored: Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola have earned the prize as well.

In an unusual turn of events, a venue has also been named as a 2024 Kennedy Center Honors winner. The Apollo, New York City’s famed comedy and music hall, will be recognized as well. The announcement video calls the legendary location, “the soul of American culture.”

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