Person of the Year is an annual gala presented by MusiCares, a 501(c)(3) public charity and affiliate of The Recording Academy (the organization that distributes the Grammy Awards), to raise funds for MusiCares’ mission and to honor recording artists for their creative achievements and their dedication to philanthropy. Chosen by the MusiCares Foundation, award recipients are honored during "Grammy Week" (a string of events culminating with the annual Grammy Awards ceremony). Person of the year gala consistes of a seated dinner and start-studded tribute concert.
From 1991 to 1993, the first three MusiCares Person of the Year awards were presented to American musicians David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, and Natalie Cole. 2018 honorees Fleetwood Mac became the first group to receive the award. Dolly Parton was the first country artist to receive the honor, in 2019. In 2023, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy received the award, marking the first time two luminaries were honored in one year. 2025 honoree Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead would be the first musician to receive the award posthumously. The award was not presented in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recipients +Year of ceremony, name of honoree, lifetime, and nationalityYearImageRecipientLifetimeNationalityRef. 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Bono 2004 Sting 2005 1942–2025 2006 2007 2008 1942–2018 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 b. 1941 2016 b. 1949 2017 1950–2017 2018 : Mick Fleetwood John McVie Christine McVie Lindsey Buckingham Stevie Nicksb. 1947 b. 1945 1943–2022 b. 1949 b. 1948 2019 1946–2026 2020 Aerosmith: Joe PerrySteven TylerTom HamiltonJoey KramerBrad Whitford b. 1950 b. 1948 b. 1951 b. 1950 b. 1952 2022 b. 1943 2023 Berry Gordy & b. 1929 b. 1940 2024 b. 1962 2025 Grateful Dead:Jerry GarciaBob WeirPhil LeshBill KreutzmannMickey Hart1942–19951947–20261940–2024b. 1946b. 1943 2026 b. 1969 2027 U2: BonoThe EdgeAdam ClaytonLarry Mullen Jr. b. 1960b. 1961b. 1960b. 1961 Each year is linked to an article about the Annual Grammy Awards ceremony of that year.
See also MusiCares Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year
References
External links Grammy Awards official website MusiCares feature in L.A. Times