Stevie Wonder receives top French award

(AFP/Bertrand Langlois)


PARIS — US singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder was Saturday awarded one of France's top cultural honours, which he dedicated to his deceased mother 30 years after he was tapped to receive it.

"I receive this honour in memory of my mother and in memory of all of those that have made it possible for me to stand here today," said an emotional Wonder, clad in marine blue striped suit, as he received the Commander of Arts and Letters award from French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand.

During the ceremony, he made a pitch for Obama's push to extend health coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

"I'm very encouraged you have it here, in this country," he said, referring the France's near-universal coverage. "Don't change."

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Mr. Wonder said: "All this in one day, it's almost too much for me. I'm breathless."

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand riffed off several of the pop star's hits at a Paris ceremony.

"I just called to say 'we love you'," the minister said, referring to the French people.

One of Mitterrand's predecessors in 1981 named Wonder as a "Commander" in the order, its highest rank. Officials said Saturday that scheduling conflicts had delayed Wonder's formal decoration.

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