Aretha Frankllin to receive Billboard icon award

BY ELYSA GARDNER | GANNETT

The Queen of Soul can add another honor to her long list: It was announced Wednesday that Aretha Franklin will receive the very first Billboard Women In Music Icon Award.

Janice Min who runs Billboard as co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, tweeted the news on Wednesday, alerting fans that Franklin will be honored alongside the inescapable Taylor Swift at the magazine’s annual Women In Music Awards, to be held Dec. 12 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.

As previously announced, Swift will be recognized as — what else? — Woman of the Year, while Ariana Grande will collect the Rising Star award. Idina Menzel and Paramore’s Hayley Williams will be acknowledged as, respectively, Breakthrough Artist and Traiblazer.

AP