Barack Obama’s Final Curtain Call: Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, and a Star-Studded Cast Honored With Presidential Medal of Freedom

Hollywood Royalty Meets the White House as Obama Awards the Nation’s Highest Civilian Honor to Cultural Giants

In a powerful blend of glitz, gravitas, and gratitude, President Barack Obama has named 21 extraordinary individuals as recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor the United States can bestow.

Among them? Two of the most beloved names in entertainment: Tom Hanks and Ellen DeGeneres.

The announcement, made Wednesday, confirmed that the Oscar-winning actor often hailed as “America’s dad,” and the groundbreaking talk show host, actress, and comedian, will receive the prestigious award at a White House ceremony on November 22.

“These are the folks who have helped push America forward,” President Obama stated.

“Whether through science, service, or storytelling, they’ve challenged us to be better and shown what it means to be American.”

The full list of honorees reads like a who’s who of American excellence. From actors Robert De Niro and Robert Redford to musical legends Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, and Cicely Tyson, the ceremony promises to be a cultural moment in and of itself.

Also honored are Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, sports icons Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and retired voice of the Dodgers Vin Scully.

Science and public service also took the spotlight, with awards going to Bill and Melinda Gates for their philanthropic work, physicist Richard Garwin, and computer scientist Margaret H. Hamilton—whose code quite literally helped launch the Apollo missions.

Architect Frank Gehry and artist Maya Lin were also among the creative minds honored, alongside civil rights attorney Newt Minow and Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón.

Posthumous honors will be given to Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, affectionately known as “Amazing Grace” and “the first lady of software,” and Elouise Cobell, a tireless advocate for Native American rights and a Blackfeet community leader.

“This medal is more than an award,” Obama noted. “It’s a statement: that greatness doesn’t require fame, but purpose.

These individuals—some household names, others heroes in quieter ways—have all left a permanent mark on our nation’s heart.”

Most of the celebrity recipients are no strangers to Obama.

The President has made memorable appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and previously honored Hanks, De Niro, Springsteen, and Tyson with Kennedy Center Honors. Redford and Ross received those recognitions during President George W. Bush’s administration in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

This marks one of the final Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremonies under Obama’s administration, making the moment all the more poignant.

As the curtain falls on eight years of historic leadership, the 44th President reminds us—through this elite group of honorees—that America’s soul shines brightest in its artists, innovators, activists, and everyday heroes.