President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Freedom to Stevie Wonder, one of the world's most gifted singer-songwriters, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian honor. Stevland Hardaway Morris, known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, has created a sound entirely his own, mixing rhythm and blues with genres ranging from rock and roll to reggae, and demonstrating his mastery of a range of instruments, styles, and themes. He is also a Kennedy Center Honoree, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and winner of 25 Grammys and an Academy Award. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Meryl Streep during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian honor. Meryl Streep is one of the most widely known and acclaimed actors in history. She holds the record for most Academy Award nominations of any actor. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
President Barack Obama grins after awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to actress Meryl Streep. Obama awarded the highest civilian honor to 18 people, including Stevie Wonder, Tom Brokaw, Alvin Ailey and Ethel Kennedy during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian honor. The first African-American U.S. president also gave medals to the families of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who were killed in Mississippi in 1964. (Photo by Jeff Malet)
