Obama's Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients: Springsteen, Jordan, DeGeneres, Gates & More

John Minchillo / AP Photo / Chris Keane

Before the circus comes to town, The White House on Wednesday announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which include Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jordan, Ellen DeGeneres and Bill and Melinda Gates, among others.

President Barack Obama will present the awards next Tuesday (Nov. 22) to 21 architects, scientists, musicians, athletes and artists, with Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson, Diana Ross among them.

Also on the list are baseball broadcaster Vin Scully, architect Frank Gehry, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and actor-director Robert Redford.

The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor and is awarded to individuals who "made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," according to a press release from the White House.

President Obama said in a statement the Medal of Freedom is a "tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better," declaring this year's recipients "have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way."