MusiCares Person of the Year

MusiCares Person of the Year
Awarded forArtistic achievement in the music industry and dedication to philanthropy
CountryUnited States
Presented byMusiCares
First awarded1991
Last awardedOngoing annually
Website[1]

Person of the Year is an annual gala presented by MusiCares, a 501(c)(3) public charity and affiliate of The Recording Academy (the organization that distributes the Grammy Awards), to raise funds for MusiCares’ mission and to honor recording artists for their creative achievements and their dedication to philanthropy.[1][2] Chosen by the MusiCares Foundation, award recipients are honored during "Grammy Week" (a string of events culminating with the annual Grammy Awards ceremony).[3] Person of the year gala consistes of a seated dinner and start-studded tribute concert.[4][5]

From 1991 to 1993, the first three MusiCares Person of the Year awards were presented to American musicians David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, and Natalie Cole. 2018 honorees Fleetwood Mac became the first group to receive the award. Dolly Parton is the first country artist to receive the honor, in 2019.[6] In 2023, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy received the award, marking the first time two luminaries were honored in one year.[7] 2025 honeree Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead will be the first musician to receive the award posthumously.[8] The award was not presented in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  1. ^ Donahue, Ann (January 30, 2010). "Neil Young Named MusiCares' Person of the Year". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "Young named Person of the Year for Grammys". Toronto Sun. Sun Media Corporation. August 11, 2009. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  3. ^ Laudadio, Marisa; Herndon, Jessica (January 27, 2010). "Sneak Peek: Inside Grammy Week Parties". People. Time Inc. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  4. ^ "All-Star Lineup To Honor 2010 MusiCares Person Of The Year Neil Young". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. December 14, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Neil Diamond Named 2009 MusiCares Person Of The Year". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. October 21, 2008. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  6. ^ "Dolly Parton Is MusiCares' 2019 Person Of The Year". 4 September 2018.
  7. ^ "MusiCares' 2023 Persons Of The Year Gala Honoring Berry Gordy & Smokey Robinson: 10 Memorable Moments". www.musicares.org. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. ^ Kreps, Daniel (23 October 2024). "Grateful Dead Named MusiCares' 2025 Persons of the Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 October 2024.