Shakira Honored in France with Knighthood and Top Award at NRJ Music Awards
Shakira had a weekend to remember after the Colombian singer received the top music honor and was also knighted in France.
The singer was made a Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters for her contributions to music. The singer of hit single "Hips Don't Lie" was presented with the honor by Frederic Mitterand, France's Minister of Culture and Communication.
"I am so humbled to receive this honor in a country like France that has shared an important cultural legacy with the rest of the world," she said as reported by the BBC.
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Previous recipients of the French cultural honor, which aims to highlight significant contributions to culture, include poet TS Eliot, Clint Eastwood, George Clooney, Jude Law and Tim Burton.
After she received her knighthood Shakira arrived in Cannes to open the NRJ Music Awards. For the awards show she performed her hit song "Je L'Aime A Mourir."
Shakira received the award nearly two months after she released the French version of the song "Je L'aime A Mourir." The singer had previously only sung that particular title in her native Spanish and English.
During the award ceremony Shakira also won the NRJ Award of Honor. The NRJ awards were created in 2000 by the radio station NRJ in conjunction with the French television network TF1.
Shakira was not the only vocal talent to receive acknowledgment for contributions to the music industry. Justin Bieber took home the male version of the NRJ Award of Honor.
Adele, the English pop singer, took home the award for international revelation of the year as well as international song of the year for "Someone Like You." Rihanna was named best international female artist.
There was another prominent entertainer who was recently honored with knighthood; actress Salma Hayek was named Knight of the Legion of Honor on Jan. 3.
