Paul McCartney Isn't Eastwooding, but He's Getting France's Clint-Approved Legion of Honor Award

Macca is set to receive France's highest honor for his legendary music career

By Josh Grossberg Sep 04, 2012 6:47 PMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Following in the footsteps of stars such as Clint Eastwood before him, Paul McCartney will be decorated with France's highest cultural distinction as an officer the Legion of Honour, the country's president, François Hollande, announced Sunday.

McCartney, 70, will receive the rank of officer in a gala ceremony scheduled for Sept. 8 in Paris. The "Yesterday" crooner will be the first British musician to be feted with the award, thanks to his contributions to music over the past five decades.

The honor puts McCartney in some pretty esteemed company. Along with Clint, who was named a commander in the Legion for his body of work (one category down from being dubbed an officer), other foreign recipients include Barbra Streisand, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liza Minnelli, J.K. Rowling and Steven Spielberg.

Sir Paul, who the folks at the Guinness World Records have declared "the most successful composer and recording artist of all time," has previously been knighted by Queen Elizabeth in his native Great Britain. He's also received a slew of honorary doctorates and most recently got the Kennedy Center Honors and Gershwin Prize from President Barack Obama.