BETTE MIDLER RECEIVES 2026 WOODY GUTHRIE PRIZE IN TULSA

Bette Midler is the 2026 recipient of the Woody Guthrie Prize, presented by the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Divine Miss M, now 80, has spent more than five decades turning hit songs and showstopping performances into fuel for social change, from environmental conservation and public spaces to LGBTQ+ rights and public health.

She accepted the honor on Friday, October 16, 2026, at a fundraising ceremony at the historic Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, with proceeds supporting the Center's education programs. The evening even held a surprise for the crowd: Midler performed her reworked "All You Fascists (Bound to Lose)", the 1940 Woody Guthrie protest song she reshaped in spring 2026 with co-writer Eric Kornfeld.

The Ceremony in Tulsa

The October 16 event, which the Center announced in August 2026, opened with remarks from Cady Shaw, the Center's senior director, alongside members of the Guthrie family. Music journalist Rona Elliot then joined Midler on stage for an intimate on-stage conversation about her life and work. Rising country artist Bryan Andrews closed the night with a solo acoustic set that ended in a full-room "This Land Is Your Land" sing-along.

Why Bette Midler Was Honored

The prize honors artists who use their work as a force for social change, and Midler's record made her a natural choice. "We are delighted to recognize Bette Midler with the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize and celebrate not only her remarkable artistic achievements, but also her enduring commitment to creating a more just, more inclusive and more hopeful world, just like Woody," Cady Shaw said in the Center's announcement (woodyguthriecenter.org). She added that the event, the Center's most important fundraiser of the year, would help keep its educational programs, events and exhibits accessible.

In her acceptance speech, Midler reflected on why Guthrie's work still resonates: "Justice doesn't always come from the courthouse. Sometimes the law is late, overdressed, and on the wrong side. Justice comes from a beat-up guitar instead," she said (Billboard). Explaining her decision to rework his protest classic, she added: "I took his song, and I put new words in its mouth, because the old fights came back in new suits. They always do" (Billboard). Calling the performance "my small contribution to the Resistance," she closed by telling the crowd: "Thank you for noticing that I showed up for duty" (Billboard).

Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, praised the choice, calling Midler "one of the rare artists that bring joy, laughter and love to the Good Fight," and noting that all of her talents are "directed towards one goal, to support the often precarious lives of others" (woodyguthriecenter.org).

Across her career, Midler has won Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards, earned two Academy Award nominations for "The Rose" and "Beaches," and sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

About the Woody Guthrie Prize

Established in 2014, the Woody Guthrie Prize recognizes artists who exemplify Guthrie's spirit and legacy by speaking out through music, film, literature, dance and other art forms while serving as a positive force for social change. Past recipients include Pete Seeger, Mavis Staples, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, Chuck D, Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Pussy Riot and Tom Morello, with U2 the most recent honoree before Midler (Billboard; woodyguthriecenter.org).

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official music video for Midler's reworked "All You Fascists (Bound to Lose)" below, from her official Bette Midler YouTube channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize?

Singer, actress and activist Bette Midler received the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize from the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa.

Where and when was the prize presented?

It was presented on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Cain's Ballroom, 423 N Main St, Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a fundraiser for the Center's education programs.

Why was Bette Midler honored?

For more than 50 years of artistry as a force for social change, spanning environmental conservation, public spaces, LGBTQ+ rights and public health.

Which song did she perform at the ceremony?

She surprised the crowd with her spring 2026 reworking of Woody Guthrie's 1940 protest song "All You Fascists (Bound to Lose)," co-written with Eric Kornfeld.

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