Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Fun Facts About Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards

• The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 1962. The very first award was handed to legendary crooner Bing Crosby in 1963.
• Until 1982, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was known as the Bing Crosby Award.
• The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honors perfomers for their overall career's artistic significance. It is distinct from both the Grammy Hall of Fame (which honors individual recordings), and the Trustees Award (which recognizes non-performers like producers or executives for their impact in music).
• Some people get recognized twice, as solo artists and for being part of a group. This includes Diana Ross (2012) and The Supremes (2023); and Paul McCartney (1990), John Lennon (1991), George Harrison (2015), and the Beatles (2014).
• Cher is set to receive the award in 2026, which is exactly 60 years after her first Grammy nomination. That was for Best New Artist, Sonny & Cher, in 1966.
• Elvis Presley received the Grammy Lifetime Acheivement Award in 1971 at the young age of 36. He was the sixth recipient, joining Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Irving Berlin.
• Over 200 individuals and groups have received the award across 60+ years, making it one of the broadest lifetime honors in music, reflecting its broad scope across musical history and genres.