He’s the 33rd MusiCares Person of the Year

The 61-year-old rock icon has been named as the 33rd musician to receive the MusiCares Person of the Year award.

Jon Bon Jovi joins previous MusiCares Person of the Year recipients including Aerosmith, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Don Henley, Sting, Bono, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Joni Mitchell and Phil Collins.

He will pick up his prestigious honour at the MusiCares Person of the Year Gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center On Friday 2nd February 2024. The event takes place two days before The Grammy Awards ceremony at Crypto.com Arena.

“MusiCares is thrilled to honor Jon Bon Jovi at the 2024 Person of the Year Gala,” says Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares.

“His remarkable contributions to rock and roll have not only left an indelible mark on the music industry, but also in the hearts of countless fans around the world.

“Furthermore, his long-standing commitment to serving food-insecure and unhoused individuals inspires us all. We’re looking forward to celebrating him and the many ways he has made a difference in this world.”

“I’m truly humbled to be this year’s MusiCares honoree. MusiCares’ work with music professionals is vitally important in creating much needed support and wellness programs that cultivate a healthier and more vibrant community for us all.” adds Jon Bon Jovi.

“Philanthropic work has been a cornerstone of my life and has always run in tandem to my music career and achievements. Nearly two decades ago when I formed the JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchens, I saw first-hand and continue to see today the impact of charitable community-based work. I know this for sure: helping one’s community is helping one’s self.”

Explaining why they’ve picked Jon Bon Jovi, Musicares write: ‘MusiCares has named Jon Bon Jovi, GRAMMY Award winner, 11-time GRAMMY Award nominee, and founding member of American rock band Bon Jovi, as the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year.

‘In addition to his extensive musical achievements, Jon Bon Jovi is recognized for his impactful philanthropic work. In 2006, he established the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, an organization dedicated to disrupting the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness.

‘The organization’s objective is to recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by hunger, poverty and homelessness by offering programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs. As a health and human service charity, MusiCares is proud to shine a light on Jon Bon Jovi’s impactful philanthropy and hopes to raise awareness for these important human rights issues.’

Bon Jovi last performed in the UK in June 2019 when they played stadium shows in Liverpool, London and Coventry.

The childhood homes of 20 rock stars, including Jon Bon Jovi:

1 of 22

Joe Elliott’s childhood home

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott was born and raised at 61 Crookes Road in Sheffield. Ahead of Def Leppard’s homecoming gigs at The Leadmill and Bramall Lane in May 2023, Joe visited the property. He wrote: “The house I was born in, grew up in, met Sav & Tony Kenning for the very time in that upstairs room you can see above me …. Sigh …. Memories!!”

2 of 22

Ozzy Osbourne’s childhood home

One of six children, Ozzy Osbourne spent his formative years in this small two-bedroom terraced house on Lodge Road in Aston. Ozzy told Huffington Post in 2014: “I’ve been back to that house a few times over the years and I can’t believe there were eight of us living in a two-and-a-half-bedroom house. It is tiny! I have wardrobes bigger in my house.”