The Woody Guthrie Prize for her “groundbreaking career and impact on humanitarian causes” goes to Joan Baez this year.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, activist, and legendary folk singer will be inducted on August 16 during a virtual Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Established in 2014, the prize is awarded annually to an artist who most embodies the spirit and body of work of Woody Guthrie by advocating for the underprivileged and acting as a catalyst for positive social change.
Baez is the latest recipient of the award, following in the footsteps of previous winners Chuck D of Public Enemy, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Mavis Staples, and Pete Seeger.
“Using my music as a voice for those who cannot be heard or have been silenced by fear and powerlessness has been my mission,” stated Baez.
Early in 2018, Baez released her 25th and last studio album, Whistle Down the Wind, marking her first new record in almost ten years.
Baez, a native of New York, was admitted into the Rock Hall in 2017.
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