Ellen DeGeneres
President Barack Obama announced the names of 21 people who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Among those named is Ellen Degeneres.
From the announcement sent from the White House:
Ellen DeGeneres is an award-winning comedian who has hosted her popular daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, since 2003 with her trademarked humor, humility, and optimism. In 2003 Ellen lent her voice to a forgetful but unforgettable little fish named Dory in Finding Nemo. She reprised her role again in 2016 with the hugely successful Finding Dory. Ellen also hosted the Academy Awards twice, in 2007 and 2014. In 1997, after coming out herself, DeGeneres made TV history when her character on Ellen revealed she was a lesbian. In her work and in her life, she has been a passionate advocate for equality and fairness.
Others who will receive the award include Tom Hanks, Cicely Tyson, Lorne Michaels, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen and Robert Redford.
