Ella Fitzgerald

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Ella Fitzgerald stands as a titan of the jazz world, holding the record for the most Grammy Awards won by a jazz artist. Her 13 wins remain a benchmark for excellence in vocal performance. She was the first vocalist to receive the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, a distinction that underscores her pioneering role in the genre. Her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame cements her status as a cultural icon whose influence extends far beyond jazz.

AwardsElla Fitzgerald won 13 Grammy Awards, more than any other jazz performer. Her wins include Best Female Vocal Performance multiple times, Best Jazz Performance categories, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. She received the National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Kennedy Center Honors. She was the first vocalist recipient of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.

Honours & Distinctions

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame·1987

Inducted for her significant contributions to the development of rock and roll and jazz music.

National Women's Hall of Fame Induction

National Women's Hall of Fame·1973

Recognized for her achievements and impact on women in the arts.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

City of Los Angeles·1960

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the recording industry.

NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship

National Endowment for the Arts·1985

First vocalist to receive this prestigious award recognizing lifetime achievement in jazz.

Key to the City of New York

City of New York·1958

Honored with the key to the city for her cultural contributions.

Rankings & Lists

100 Greatest Singers of All Time

Rolling Stone·2008

Greatest Female Singer of All Time

Billboard·2003

100 Greatest Women in Music

VH1·2012

TIME 100

TIME Magazine·1999

Magazine Covers

TIME

1961-03-17

The First Lady of Song

Ebony

1955-01-01

Jazz Legend Cover

Ebony

1960-06-01

Iconic Feature

Records & Feats

Most Grammy Awards Won by a Jazz Artist

Awards·1996

Holds the record for the most Grammy Awards won by a jazz artist with 13 wins.

First Female Vocalist to Win NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship

Historic First·1985

Became the first vocalist to receive the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship.