Celebrities who were given keys to the city

The iconic singer was presented with the key to Atlantic City on June 4 by Mayor Marty Small Sr. during the after-party Blige threw for the 'Together We Rise' Inaugural Gala—a charity event benefiting the city's youth programs. "As Mayor of the great city of Atlantic City, I saw that Atlanta gave you a day," Small Sr. said, referring to May's 'Strength of a Woman Day' in Atlanta, which uplifted Blige's 'Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit,' according to ET. "I'm presenting you with a key to the city," the mayor added, giving Blige a large plaque with the golden key.

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Megan Thee Stallion -

Megan Thee Stallion has always championed her hometown of Houston throughout her career, and on May 1 she was presented with the key to the city. Not only that, but she also had May 2 designated in her honor as "Megan Thee Stallion Day" in recognition of her contributions to the community. And because it's Texas, the rapper was reportedly also given the Belt Buckle for the city of Houston by Mayor Sylvester Turner and, of course, a cowboy hat.

"Came home real quick to get THEE KEY TO THEE CITY and in honor of my mother and my grandmother's birthday May 2nd is official MEGAN THEE STALLION DAY IN HOUSTON TX," the rapper wrote on Instagram. "Thank you Mayor @sylvesterturner for honoring me today and I will continue to give back to the city that made me who I am today."

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Kendrick Lamar -

The Pulitzer-winning rapper was given the key to his hometown of Compton by the town's mayor, Aja Brown.

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Aretha Franklin - The late Queen of Soul received the key to Cleveland during a star-studded tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Kardashian-Jenner family -

On September 2, 2010, the Kardashian-Jenner clan were awarded the key to the city of Beverly Hills, the award date intentionally falling on a day that matches the city's famous zip code, 90210.

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Big Sean -

Big Sean received the key to Detroit in 2017, and became the youngest person in the city’s history to ever receive the honor.

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Solange -

The singer received the key to New Orleans in 2016.

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Queen Latifah -

In 2005, Queen Latifah received the key to the city of Secaucus, New Jersey for her ongoing support and activism.

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Dave Chappelle -

Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded the comedian a key to his hometown of Washington, D.C. in 2017.

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Diana Ross -

The iconic Diana Ross was given the key to Sarasota, Florida.

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Jerry Seinfeld -

Then-mayor Pete Buttigieg was actually the one who awarded Jerry Seinfeld with a key to South Bend, Indiana in 2012.

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Usher -

The R&B singer was given the key to New Orleans for his efforts in rebuilding the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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Lil Kim -

The rap icon has keys to both Miami and Los Angeles, the latter of which she received specifically for supporting her LGBTQ+ fans.

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Jennifer Hudson -

The singer and actress was given the key to Cincinnati.

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Stevie Wonder -

The Motown legend was given the key to Detroit by then-mayor Coleman Young in 1974.

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B.B. King -

The late blues icon was given the keys to Cleveland, Ohio, way back in 1968.

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Dionne Warwick -

One of America's biggest hitmakers holds the key to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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Michael Jackson -

The late music icon was awarded the keys to Chicago back in 1988.

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Audrey Hepburn -

Back in 1990, Audrey Hepburn was presented with a key to Chicago by then-mayor Richard M. Daley.

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Ludacris -

The rapper was awarded for his philanthropy and dedication to Atlanta with a key to the city.

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Trevor Noah -

Not only did Trevor Noah receive the key to Miami in 2018, but the city also declared October 29 as "Trevor Noah Day."

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Sean Combs -

P. Diddy holds the key to Miami Beach, as well as to Chicago for his efforts to help inner city kids.

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Mac Miller -

In 2013, then-mayor Luke Ravenstahl awarded the late rapper a key to Pittsburgh and declared September 20 “Mac Miller Day.”

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Dr. Dre -

When Dr. Dre released the menacing Eazy-E diss track, 'Dre Day,' he would have never guessed that 20 years later the city of Compton would offer Dr. Dre an actual “Dre Day” and a key to the city, in acknowledgment of his entrepreneurial achievements.

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Pitbull -

In 2009, Miami Commissioner Tomás Regalado (eventually the mayor of the city) awarded Pitbull a key to the city for the community service he’d done in the city. Pitbull also curiously has a key to Kodiak, Alaska.

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Debbie Allen -

Debbie Allen was given the key to Dallas, Texas for her commitment to the arts.

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Drake -

Drake manifested his key to the city in his song 'Summer Sixteen.' The 6ix god was given the key to Toronto by Mayor John Tory for obvious reasons.

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DJ Khaled -

DJ Khaled got a literal "major key alert" when he received the key to Las Vegas.

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z -

In 2018, this power couple received the key to New Orleans for their philanthropic work and impact on popular culture.

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Lionel Richie -

The famed artist received the key to Cincinnati, Ohio in 2015.

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Shaquille O’Neal -

The famous basketball player was given the key to Miami in 2004.

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T.I. -

The rapper holds the key to Jackson, Mississippi.

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Public Enemy -

After Public Enemy were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they received the key to Durham, North Carolina.

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50 Cent -

In 2009, the rapper was awarded the key to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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Whitney Houston -

Back in 1986, Houston received the key to her hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

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Michael Vick -

In 2011, the then-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was given the key to Dallas.

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Bryson Tiller -

Not only was the rapper given the keys to Louisville, but March 12 was also deemed Bryson Tiller Day in the Kentucky town.

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Three 6 Mafia -

After they won the Oscar for Best Original Song for 'Hard Out Here For A Pimp,' then-mayor of Memphis, Willie W. Herenton, gave Three 6 a key to the city.

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Mary J. Blige -

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Megan Thee Stallion -

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Kendrick Lamar -

The Pulitzer-winning rapper was given the key to his hometown of Compton by the town's mayor, Aja Brown.

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Aretha Franklin - The late Queen of Soul received the key to Cleveland during a star-studded tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Kardashian-Jenner family -

On September 2, 2010, the Kardashian-Jenner clan were awarded the key to the city of Beverly Hills, the award date intentionally falling on a day that matches the city's famous zip code, 90210.

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Big Sean -

Big Sean received the key to Detroit in 2017, and became the youngest person in the city’s history to ever receive the honor.

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Solange -

The singer received the key to New Orleans in 2016.

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Queen Latifah -

In 2005, Queen Latifah received the key to the city of Secaucus, New Jersey for her ongoing support and activism.

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Dave Chappelle -

Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded the comedian a key to his hometown of Washington, D.C. in 2017.

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Diana Ross -

The iconic Diana Ross was given the key to Sarasota, Florida.

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Jerry Seinfeld -

Then-mayor Pete Buttigieg was actually the one who awarded Jerry Seinfeld with a key to South Bend, Indiana in 2012.

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Usher -

The R&B singer was given the key to New Orleans for his efforts in rebuilding the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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Lil Kim -

The rap icon has keys to both Miami and Los Angeles, the latter of which she received specifically for supporting her LGBTQ+ fans.

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Jennifer Hudson -

The singer and actress was given the key to Cincinnati.

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Stevie Wonder -

The Motown legend was given the key to Detroit by then-mayor Coleman Young in 1974.

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B.B. King -

The late blues icon was given the keys to Cleveland, Ohio, way back in 1968.

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Dionne Warwick -

One of America's biggest hitmakers holds the key to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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Michael Jackson -

The late music icon was awarded the keys to Chicago back in 1988.

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Audrey Hepburn -

Back in 1990, Audrey Hepburn was presented with a key to Chicago by then-mayor Richard M. Daley.

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Ludacris -

The rapper was awarded for his philanthropy and dedication to Atlanta with a key to the city.

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Trevor Noah -

Not only did Trevor Noah receive the key to Miami in 2018, but the city also declared October 29 as "Trevor Noah Day."

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Sean Combs -

P. Diddy holds the key to Miami Beach, as well as to Chicago for his efforts to help inner city kids.

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Mac Miller -

In 2013, then-mayor Luke Ravenstahl awarded the late rapper a key to Pittsburgh and declared September 20 “Mac Miller Day.”

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Dr. Dre -

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Pitbull -

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Debbie Allen -

Debbie Allen was given the key to Dallas, Texas for her commitment to the arts.

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Drake -

Drake manifested his key to the city in his song 'Summer Sixteen.' The 6ix god was given the key to Toronto by Mayor John Tory for obvious reasons.

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DJ Khaled -

DJ Khaled got a literal "major key alert" when he received the key to Las Vegas.

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z -

In 2018, this power couple received the key to New Orleans for their philanthropic work and impact on popular culture.

Getty Images

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Lionel Richie -

The famed artist received the key to Cincinnati, Ohio in 2015.

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Shaquille O’Neal -

The famous basketball player was given the key to Miami in 2004.

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T.I. -

The rapper holds the key to Jackson, Mississippi.

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Public Enemy -

After Public Enemy were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they received the key to Durham, North Carolina.

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50 Cent -

In 2009, the rapper was awarded the key to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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Whitney Houston -

Back in 1986, Houston received the key to her hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

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Michael Vick -

In 2011, the then-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was given the key to Dallas.

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Bryson Tiller -

Not only was the rapper given the keys to Louisville, but March 12 was also deemed Bryson Tiller Day in the Kentucky town.

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Three 6 Mafia -

After they won the Oscar for Best Original Song for 'Hard Out Here For A Pimp,' then-mayor of Memphis, Willie W. Herenton, gave Three 6 a key to the city.

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Celebrities who were given keys to the city

Isaiah Rashad receives his own day and key to his hometown while onstage at Bonnaroo

21/06/22 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Trivia

On the path to becoming famous, awards are typically involved as part of the verification of talent, but when verifying impact, the awards can come in shapes quite different than little trophies. That impact can be felt in numbers of albums sold or how much the box office made in the opening weekend, or it can be straight from the communities who felt the light of a certain star shine particularly bright on them.

Isaiah Rashad was doing what he does best onstage during his performance at the Bonnaroo music festival in his home state of Tennessee when he was given the key to the city of Chattanooga by the city’s mayor Tim Kelly. The mayor of the rapper's hometown declared June 17 as Isaiah Rashad Day and gifted with the key onstage, where Kelly told him he's "made Chattanooga proud," as per the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "You’re an inspiration to this crowd, to the world, to this city, and so I wanted to present you with a key to the city of Chattanooga,” Kelly said to the crowd which erupted in cheers.

Being given the key to a city is more symbolic than functional, and before you ask, no, the key doesn't open anything. But it's a beautiful gesture and a way to celebrate an artist who’s done a lot for the city. Click through to see which celebrities have earned this honor.