In addition to performing his songs, the singer was honored with tribute performances by Tony Bennett, Josh Groban and others at the concert airing on PBS on January 2.
- Nov 20, 2014
AceShowbiz - As previously announced, the Library of Congress honored Billy Joel with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The singer received the award at a star-studded concert held at DAR Constitution Hall, just blocks from the White House, on Wednesday, November 19.
The event featured tributes and performances by Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, Josh Groban, Natalie Maines, John Mellencamp and LeAnn Rimes among others. Joel also performed some songs like "Movin' Out", "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" and "You May Be Right".
At one point, Kevin Spacey emerged to tell the 65-year-old musician, "Billy, we took a poll backstage, and the consensus is that you left one song out." Joel then performed his "Piano Man" with other performers while Spacey played his harmonica. The concert will air on PBS stations nationwide on January 2.
Joel is the sixth artist to have been honored with Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. "When we first began to establish the Library's Gershwin Prize, it was with the vision that this award be bestowed upon artists who have created a lifetime of remarkable works that can be recognized and added to America's national cultural patrimony," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "Billy Joel is a true example of this vision for the Library's Gershwin Prize."
