PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
The University of Minnesota has awarded the late rock star Prince an honorary degree to recognize his influence on music and his role in shaping his hometown of Minneapolis.
University President Eric Kaler and Regent Darrin Rosha presented the school’s highest honor, the Doctorate of Humane Letters, to Prince’s sister, Tyka Nelson, in a ceremony on campus Wednesday evening. The university had been preparing to present it to Prince before his death in 2016.
Students from the university’s School of Music were joined by guest artists including St. Paul Peterson and Cameron Kinghorn in paying tribute to Prince by performing music associated with his career.
Gladys Knight, Ledisi to honor Aretha Franklin at AMAs
The American Music Awards will honor Aretha Franklin next month. Dick clark productions said Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans and musical director Rickey Minor will pay tribute to Franklin’s gospel roots and her album “Amazing Grace” at the Oct. 9 event. It will air live on ABC from in Los Angeles.
Franklin died last month. She won six AMAs throughout her career and even hosted the show in 1976 and 1983.
Sabrina Owens, Franklin’s niece and the executor of her estate, said, “When I heard some of the initial ideas for the tribute, I knew without a doubt that this tribute will go down as one of the best in American music.”
— From wire reports