Elton John And Bernie Taupin To Receive Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize

Elton John and Bernie Taupin will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the annual award for impact and achievement in popular music.

The songwriting duo will be honored at a tribute concert on March 20, with the event broadcast on PBS stations to starting on April 8.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement that John and Taupin “have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists.”

Past recipients of the honor include Joni Mitchell, Lionel Ritchie, Garth Brooks, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. According to the Library of Congress, Hayden consulted with those in music and entertainment and with library curators in making the selection.

John said in a statement, “I’ve been writing songs with Bernie for 56 years, and we never thought that one day this might be bestowed upon us.” Taupin said, “To be in a house along with the great American songwriters, to even be in the same avenue is humbling, and I am absolutely thrilled to accept.”