Star-Studded Field of Actors, Athletes, Musicians, and More Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama had a few superstar guests at the White House on Tuesday as he awarded America’s top civilian honor to Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro, among others.

The quartet were among the 21 recipients of the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

The honorees, from the worlds of acting, athletics, music, and science, were acknowledged for their contributions to America.

In addition to Ross, Hanks, De Niro, and Springsteen, other A-listers at the special event included comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, actor/director Robert Redford, basketball heroes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, baseball broadcaster Vin Scully, and computer science billionaire-turned-philanthropist Bill Gates and his wife Melinda.

Meanwhile, R&B icon Ross previously gushed about being one of the honorees on Twitter, writing last week, “Deeply humbled to be selected by Pres Obama @POTUS to receive Medal of Freedom-Americas Highest Civilian Honor. Truly Grateful & Appreciative.”

Deeply humbled to be selected by Pres Obama @POTUS to receive Medal of Freedom-Americas Highest Civilian Honor.Truly Grateful & Appreciative pic.twitter.com/69LpwA9XBd

— Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) November 16, 2016

And The Boss (Springsteen) took to Twitter as well.

“I am the President. He is the boss.” –@POTUS @BarackObama

— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) November 22, 2016