Madonna to Receive Billboard’s 2016 Woman of the Year Award

Madonna achieved pop goddess status years ago, but this year she will be recognized as Billboard's 2016 Woman of the Year. She will accept the award at Billboard's Women in Music event, celebrating their Women in Music list, identifying the 50 most powerful women in the industry each year.

"Madonna is one of a miniscule number of super-artists whose influence and career transcend music," president and chief creative officer of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group, Janice Min said.

"With her creative vision, relentless innovation, and dedication to philanthropic causes, she is an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people around the world, all while shattering every career record out there. She is an important feminist on top of that, a one-of-a-kind artist who's used her influence to change the conversation around women, sexuality, and equal rights."

The 11th annual Women in Music event will be held December 19 in New York, airing December 12 on Lifetime.