Here Are All the MusiCares Person of the Year Honorees

Age at the time: 61

Grammy nominations that year: None.

Career Grammy history: One award. The band Bon Jovi won the 2007 award for best country collaboration with vocals for “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” featuring Jennifer Nettles.

Notes: Jon Bon Jovi was the youngest honoree since Don Henley received the honor at age 59 in 2007. He was the second New Jersey native to receive the honor, following Bruce Springsteen in 2013.  

Age at the time: Gordy was 93; Robinson was 82, making them the oldest honorees.

Grammy nominations that year: None.

Career Grammy history: Gordy was nominated for the 1992 award for best R&B song for co-writing “I’ll Be There.” Robinson’s only Grammy win came in 1988 for best R&B performance, male for “Just to See Her.”

Notes: This marked the first time that two individuals were co-honorees. Motown founder Gordy was the first non-artist to receive the honor, as well as the first honoree who has not won a Grammy in competition. Gordy and Robinson were the third and fourth honorees who are Motown royalty. Stevie Wonder received the honor in 1999, followed by Lionel Richie in 2016. Gordy received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 1991. Robinson received a lifetime achievement award in 1999.

Age at the time: 78, making her the oldest honoree to that point.

Grammy nominations that year: One, resulting in a win for Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) as best historical album.

Career Grammy history: Nine awards, including album of the year as a featured artist on Herbie Hancock’s tribute, River: The Joni Letters (2008).

Notes: This was the first person of the year gala in two years, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mitchell was the second person born in Canada to be named person of the year, following Neil Young. Mitchell received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2002.

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Four awards

Notes: Aerosmith was the second band to receive the honor. They were the first band to receive the honor that was comprised entirely of Americans and the first that was comprised entirely of men. Aerosmith performed “Livin’ on the Edge” and “Walk This Way” (the latter with Run-D.M.C.) on the 2020 Grammy Awards telecast.

Age at the time: 73

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: 10 awards

Notes: Parton was the first honoree from the world of country music. There was a tribute to Parton on the 2019 Grammy telecast, with Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Maren Morris, Miley Cyrus and Little Big Town joining Parton for a segment. Parton received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2011.

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Two awards, both for album of the year for Rumours (1977). That requires explanation: From 1965-80, artists who also produced or co-produced their album of the year (or record of the year) winners received two awards.

Notes: Fleetwood Mac was the first band to receive the honor.

Age at the time: 66

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Three awards

Notes: Petty died on Oct. 2, 2017, less than eight months after the MusiCares event at which he was honored. There was a tribute to Petty on the 2018 Grammy telecast, in which Chris Stapleton and Emmylou Harris performed the title track from his 1994 album Wildflowers.

Age at the time: 66

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Four awards, including album of the year for Can’t Slow Down (1985) and song of the year for “We Are the World” (1986), which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson.

Notes: There was a tribute to Richie on the 2016 Grammy telecast. John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor and Tyrese Gibson joined Richie for a segment.

Age at the time: 73

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: 10 awards, including two for album of the year. He won as a featured artist on George Harrison & Friends’ The Concert for Bangla Desh (1973) and as a lead artist for Time Out of Mind (1998).

Notes: Dylan’s person of the year honor helped to make up for two most unfortunate facts. Dylan, universally acknowledged as one of the most important songwriters in history, has yet to receive a song of the year nomination. And stage security was so lax at the 1998 telecast that a stage-crasher, performance artist Michael Portnoy (infamous for the inexplicable “SOY BOMB” message written on his bare chest), intruded upon Dylan’s performance. To Dylan’s great credit, he kept right on playing.

Age at the time: 71

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Four awards, including three of the Big Four at the 1972 awards. Tapestry won album of the year, “It’s Too Late” took record of the year and “You’ve Got a Friend” won song of the year. King was the first woman to sweep those three awards in one night. Alas, King, who had recently given birth, declined to make the trip from her home in California to New York for that year’s ceremony.

Notes: King performed “Beautiful,” a highlight of Tapestry, on the 2014 Grammy telecast, in a spot that also featured Sara Bareilles singing “Brave.” King received a trustees award, along with Gerry Goffin, in 2004, and a lifetime achievement award in 2013. But she hasn’t won a Grammy in competition since that Tapestry sweep.

Age at the time: 63

Grammy nominations that year: Three — best rock performance and best rock song for “We Take Care of Our Own” and best rock album for Wrecking Ball.

Career Grammy history: 20 awards, including song of the year for “Streets of Philadelphia” (1994).

Notes: Among rock artists, only U2 has won more Grammys (22) than The Boss.

Age at the time: 69

Grammy nominations that year: One, resulting in a win for Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition) as best historical album.

Career Grammy history: 18 awards, including two of the Big Four. “Michelle,” credited to Lennon/McCartney, won song of the year (1967). The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band won album of the year (1968).

Notes: McCartney performed a song from his newly-released album Kisses on the Bottom on the 2012 Grammy telecast. He also joined Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh and more for a show-ending performance of the prized medley that closed The Beatles’ classic 1969 album, Abbey Road. McCartney has received two lifetime achievement awards from the Recording Academy – one as a solo artist in 1990 and one with The Beatles in 2014. If you think that was awfully late for the Academy to give The Beatles a career-capping honorary award, you should know that they had given them a trustees award in 1972.

Age at the time: 68

Grammy nominations that year: One — best traditional pop vocal album for Love Is the Answer.

Career Grammy history: Eight awards, including album of the year for The Barbra Streisand Album (1964) and song of the year for “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)” (1978), which she co-wrote with Paul Williams.

Notes: Streisand performed “Evergreen (Love Theme From A Star Is Born)” on the 2011 Grammy telecast. It was her second performance on the telecast. The first was her legendary 1980 pairing with Neil Diamond on “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” Here’s a mind-blowing fact: Streisand has yet to win for best traditional pop vocal album. She has been nominated 13 times in the category and lost every time (usually to Tony Bennett). Grammy voters, is this any way to treat a legend?

Age at the time: 64

Grammy nominations that year: One, resulting in Young’s long-overdue first Grammy win — best boxed or special limited edition package for Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972).

Career Grammy history: Two awards – but, amazingly, only one for music (best rock song for “Angry World”). As noted above, Young’s other Grammy was as an art director.

Notes: Young was the first person of the year honoree who was born in Canada. He was the second former member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to receive the honor, following David Crosby.

Age at the time: 68

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: One award — a 1974 award for Jonathan Livingston Seagull as best album of best original score written for a motion picture or a television special. Diamond’s meager number of Grammy wins in competitive categories, especially when several of his peers and contemporaries have won more, is perplexing.

Notes: Diamond performed his most guaranteed crowd-pleaser, “Sweet Caroline,” on the 2009 Grammy telecast. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2018.

Age at the time: 65

Grammy nominations that year: One, resulting in a win for “Never Gonna Break My Faith” as best gospel performance. The track was a collab with Mary J. Blige and featured the Harlem Boys Choir. Franklin performed the song on the Grammy telecast in a gospel medley that also featured BeBe Winans, The Clark Sisters and more.

Career Grammy history: 18 awards

Notes: Franklin won a record 11 times for best R&B vocal performance, female. It’s not for nothing they call her the Queen of Soul. But she was never nominated in a Big Four category, not even for the immortal “Respect.” Franklin died in 2018 at age 76.

Age at the time: 59

Grammy nominations that year: One — best country collaboration with vocals for “Calling Me,” a collab with Kenny Rogers.

Career Grammy history: Eight awards, including record of the year for Eagles’ “Hotel California” (1978) — the first rock track to win in that marquee category.

Notes: Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts performed three Eagles classics in a tribute to Henley and Bob Wills on the 2007 Grammy telecast. The Henley part of the tribute consisted of “Hotel California,” “Desperado” and “Life in the Fast Lane.”

Age at the time: 57

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Six awards

Notes: Taylor was nominated for record, album and song of the year at the 1971 awards for the classic “Fire and Rain” and the album that housed it, Sweet Baby James. He was just 22 (!) when those nominations were announced.

Age at the time: 62

Grammy nominations that year: Two, resulting in one win — best rock instrumental performance for “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow,” a track from Brian Wilson Presents Smile. Incredibly, it was Wilson’s first Grammy Award.

Career Grammy history: Two awards

Notes: Wilson has yet to receive a nomination in a Big Four category. Even “Good Vibrations” was passed over for record and song of the year nods.

Age at the time: 52

Grammy nominations that year: Two, resulting in one win — best pop collaboration with vocals for “Whenever I Say Your Name,” a collab with Mary J. Blige.

Career Grammy history: 17 awards, including song of the year for “Every Breath You Take” (1984). Sting’s win prevented Michael Jackson from sweeping the “Big Three” awards that year.

Notes: Sting and Sean Paul teamed to sing The Police’s classic “Roxanne” on the 2004 Grammy telecast. Sting also joined Dave Matthews, Pharrell Williams and Vince Gill for a 40th anniversary tribute to The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.”

Age at the time: 42

Grammy nominations that year: One — best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for a live recording of “Walk On” from the album America—A Tribute to Heroes, a post-9/11 charity album.

Career Grammy history: 22 awards, all with U2. The group won two awards each for album of the year, record of the year and song of the year. U2 won album of the year for The Joshua Tree (1988) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2006), record of the year for “Beautiful Day” (2001) and “Walk On” (2002), and song of the year for “Beautiful Day” (2001) and “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” (2006).

Notes: U2 were the second of three artists to win back-to-back awards for record of the year, following Roberta Flack and preceding Billie Eilish. Bono is the only person from Ireland to be a person of the year honoree.

Age at the time: 52

Grammy nominations that year: One — best pop collaboration with vocals for “New York State of Mind,” a collab with Tony Bennett. The two stars performed the song on that year’s telecast, the first held since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Career Grammy history: Five awards, including three of the Big Four. He won record and song of the year for “Just the Way You Are” (1979) and album of the year for 52nd Street (1980).

Notes: Joel received a Grammy legend award in 1991.

Age at the time: 59

Grammy nominations that year: One – a nod for album of the year for You’re the One. That’s Simon’s most recent Grammy nomination. He performed the title song on the 2001 Grammy telecast.

Career Grammy history: 16 awards, including a record-tying three awards for album of the year, a record-tying three awards for record of the year and one award for song of the year. His album of the year winners are Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971) and the solo albums Still Crazy After All These Years (1976) and Graceland (1987). His record of the year winners are Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” (1969) and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1971) and the solo hit “Graceland” (1988). His song of the year winner was “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1971).

Notes: Simon was the first person to win Grammys for record, album and song of the year in one night (for “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the album of the same name). Simon & Garfunkel received a lifetime achievement award in 2003.

Age at the time: 52

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Five awards

Notes: Elton was the second artist born in the U.K. to be named person of the year. He also received a Grammy legend award in 2000. He performed his classic “Philadelphia Freedom” on that year’s telecast, joined by the red-hot Backstreet Boys.

Age at the time: 48

Grammy nominations that year: Three, resulting in two wins — best male R&B vocal performance and best instrumental arrangement accompanying vocal(s), both for a remake of the W.C. Handy classic “St. Louis Blues.” The track was drawn from Herbie Hancock’s 1998 album, Gershwin’s World.

Career Grammy history: 25 awards, including three for album of the year, for Innervisions (1974), Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1975) and Songs in the Key of Life (1977). Wonder remains the only person to win in that top category for three consecutive studio albums.

Notes: Wonder received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 1996.

Age at the time: 62

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Five awards

Notes: Pavarotti is the only person of the year honoree from the world of opera or classical music. He is also the only honoree from Italy. He also received a Grammy legend award in 1998. He was slated to perform “Nessun Dorma” on that year’s Grammy telecast, but fell ill. Aretha Franklin, who had sung the song at the MusiCares gala two nights before, filled in for him on short notice. Pavarotti died in 2007 at age 71.

Age at the time: 46

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Eight awards, including album of the year for No Jacket Required (1986) and record of the year for “Another Day in Paradise” (1991).

Notes: Collins was the first person of the year honoree who was born in the U.K.

Age at the time: 62

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: 28 awards, including two awards for album of the year, for co-producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller with Jackson (1984) and as an artist for his own Back on the Block (1991), and one award for record of the year for producing USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” (1986). Jones’ 28 competitive Grammys put him in a tie with Beyoncé for second place. Only classical conductor Sir Georg Solti has won more competitive Grammys (31). Those stats will probably need updating after the 65th annual Grammy Awards, where Beyoncé has a good chance to win multiple awards.

Notes: Jones received a trustees award from the Recording Academy in 1989 and a Grammy legend award in 1991.

Age at the time: 68

Grammy nominations that year: Three, resulting in two awards – album of the year and best traditional pop vocal performance, both for MTV Unplugged. Bennett and k.d. lang performed their dreamy rendition of the 1934 classic “Moonglow” on that year’s Grammy telecast.

Career Grammy history: 19 awards, including two of the Big Four. He won record of the year for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (1963) and album of the year for MTV Unplugged (1995). Counting all Grammy categories, his wins span 60 years (1963-2022) – the longest such span in Grammy history.

Notes: Bennett is the only person to receive the person of the year honor and a Grammy for album of the year in the same year. Bennett received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2001.

Age at the time: 36

Grammy nominations that year: One, resulting in her first Grammy win for Mi Tierra as best tropical Latin album. Estefan performed the title track on that year’s Grammy telecast.

Career Grammy history: Three awards.

Notes: Estefan was – and remains – the youngest person of the year honoree. Estefan, who was born in Havana, Cuba, was also the first honoree who was born outside of the U.S. Estefan is also the only person to be named person of the year at both the Grammys and the Latin Grammys.

Age at the time: 43

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: Nine awards, including three of the Big Four. She won best new artist (1976), album of the year for Unforgettable With Love (1992) and record of the year for a silky remake of “Unforgettable,” a collab with her late father, Nat “King” Cole (1992).

Notes: Cole was the first Black person of the year honoree—just as she had been the first Black winner for best new artist. Cole joined Tony Bennett for a performance of Rodgers & Hart’s “The Lady Is a Tramp” (from his Sinatra tribute album Perfectly Frank) on the 1993 Grammy telecast. Cole died on the last day of 2015 at age 65.

Age at the time: 42

Grammy nominations that year: Five, resulting in three wins – best pop vocal performance, female for “Something to Talk About;” best rock vocal performance, solo for Luck of the Draw; and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for “Good Man, Good Woman,” a collab with Delbert McClinton. That’s more same-year Grammy nominations and awards than any other person of the year honoree. Raitt performed the album’s most prized song, “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” on that year’s Grammy telecast.

Career Grammy history: 10 awards, including album of the year for Nick of Time (1990).

Notes: Raitt was the first female person of the year honoree. She was voted a lifetime achievement award by the Recording Academy in 2020.

Age at the time: 49

Grammy nominations that year: None

Career Grammy history: One award — best new artist (1970) as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Notes: Crosby backed Phil Collins on “Another Day in Paradise” on the 1991 Grammy telecast. Crosby also backed Collins on the single, which won a Grammy for record of the year. (Crosby’s role was uncredited, so he didn’t receive a Grammy.)