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Jody Watley Will Receive Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

The city of Atlanta will officially recognize June 2, 2022 as Jody Watley Day.

Trailblazing singer/songwriter Jody Watley is set to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Watley, who rose to fame during her solo career in the ‘80s and ‘90s, will also be honored by the city of Atlanta on June 2, 2022 with Jody Watley Day.

Watley will receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at the Georgia State Capital and will be “publicly recognized for her time, effort, and dedication to humanity.”

“I am truly honored for this recognition from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris,” Watley said in an official statement, according to VIBE. “I am also grateful to Representative Billy Mitchell and Dr. Jacqueline Mohair for nominating me for this prestigious award.”

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“We are so excited to designate June 2nd as Jody Watley Day in Atlanta, Georgia,”said  Georgia Assemblyman Billy Mitchell. “She is truly the epitome of grace, excellence, class, and a gifted songstress and songwriter.”

Dr. Jody Watley received her first Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business this year and was named the first ambassador to the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville in 2021.

Throughout her iconic career Watley received six Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Singles, 13 No. 1 Dance Singles, 2 R&B No. 1 singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, and more. Back in 2007, she became a recipient of the Black Music Honors Crossover Music Icon Award. In 1989 her song collaboration “Friends” with Eric B. and Rakim was the first crossover R&B, Hip-Hop, and Dance on the Billboard Top 10.

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