Madonna Named Billboard’s 2016 Woman Of The Year

On Friday, Madonna was named Woman of the Year by Billboard.

Billboard will mark the honor at the 11th annual Women in Music event, taking place in New York City on Dec. 9. “Madonna is one of a minuscule number of super-artists whose influence and career transcend music,” said Janice Min, the Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group chief. “With her creative vision, relentless innovation, and dedication to philanthropic causes, she is an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world, all while shattering every career record out there. She is an important feminist on top of that, a one-of-a-kind artist who’s used her influence to change the conversation around women, sexuality and equal rights.”

Madonna has extended her record as the highest-grossing female touring artist of all time. Her Rebel Heart Tour, which wrapped in last March, reportedly grossed $169.8 million. In total, more than $1.3 billion was earned from her concert tours over the years. Apart from that, she also holds the record for the most top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the most No. 1 songs on any single Billboard chart.

In addition to her ongoing chart dominance, the songstress is also being honored for her philanthropic efforts, which are effecting real change in the world. Madonna’s nongovernmental organization Raising Malawi, launched ten years ago, is currently constructing Malawi’s first pediatric surgery and intensive care unit, which will double the health and educational support to children in the African country. The Mercy James Institute of Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care facility will open in 2017.

More recently, the “Like A Virgin” singer took a stand to support Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, by getting naked on social media.

Previous artists named Woman of the Year include Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift (twice), Beyonce, Pink and Katy Perry.