Bette Midler to Receive Prestigious Honor Previously Awarded to Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson, and John Mellencamp
Bette Midler has been named the 2026 recipient of the Woody Guthrie Prize, recognising artists whose work reflects Guthrie’s social conscience and supports positive change. The award places Midler alongside previous recipients including Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson and John Mellencamp, highlighting her long-standing artistic and advocacy work.
Midler said she was honoured by the recognition and praised Guthrie’s commitment to justice and to marginalised people, naming his 1940 song “I Ain’t Got No Home in This World Anymore” as a favourite. She will receive the prize on 16 October 2026 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a fundraising event featuring Guthrie family members, journalist Rona Elliot and a solo performance by country singer Bryan Andrews.
- Bette Midler will receive the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize.
- The prize recognises art and advocacy for social justice.
- The ceremony takes place in Tulsa on 16 October 2026.
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The Woody Guthrie Prize is an American award named after the folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie, whose songs often focused on poverty, workers’ rights and social inequality. It is given to artists whose work and public activities are seen as carrying forward those themes.
Bette Midler is an American singer, actor and entertainer whose career has included pop music, film and stage work. She has also been involved in charitable and environmental campaigning, including through the New York Restoration Project, which works on green spaces in New York City.
Previous recipients such as Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson and John Mellencamp are musicians known for songs about ordinary lives and social issues. The prize is linked to Guthrie’s legacy and is awarded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Woody Guthrie Center is based.