Ariana Grande to receive honorary citizenship of Manchester

This is in recognition of her One Love Manchester concert

Published 14th Jun 2017
Last updated 14th Jun 2017

Manchester City Council have confirmed that US singer Ariana Grande is in line for a new award set up to 'recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution to Manchester'.

This follows the One Love Manchester benefit concert that Ariana and her team arranged at short notice following the terrorist attack outside her concert at Manchester Arena on the 22nd May.

In the days after the One Love Manchester concert a petition signed by nearly 20,000 people was set up to give Ariana the 'Freedom of Manchester'. However as Manchester City Countil explains, this new award would be different to the rarely-awarded 'Freedom of Manchester'.

In a statement Manchester City Council explained,

'This would include granting honorary citizenship of Manchester to those from outside Greater Manchester who have made a significant contribution to the city. It is proposed that the first recipient of this new honour is Ariane Grande.' sic

Continuing, 'This would be in recognition of her role in organising the One Love Manchester concert on June 4 which has so far raised almost £3 million for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund set up for victims of the May 22 Manchester Arena terror attack.'

The statement went on to say that an event would be held later in the year to recognise the 'great many selfless acts and demonstrations of community spirit in the aftermath of the atrocity'.

Ariana returned to Manchester just under two weeks after the terror attack which killed 22 people and injured many others. As part of the One Love Manchester concert she brought a star-studded line-up including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Little Mix and many more.

Here is Ariana performing her hit 'Break Free' at the One Love Manchester concert >>>

Before the One Love Manchester concert Ariana returned to Manchester to visit some of those still in hospital who had been injured in the bombing, she also spent time with the families of some of the victims.

#WeStandTogether

All net ticket proceeds were donated to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.

The fund will support people who have been injured or bereaved by the attack. The donations will help alleviate suffering and ensure that victims and their families do not face short-term financial difficulties. Care will be taken to prioritise those in the most urgent need. Manchester City Council are establishing a charity to deliver the funds.

You can still donate by clicking here or calling 0300 456 4999.

One Love Manchester

Ariana Grande to receive honorary citizenship of Manchester

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Miley Cyrus

2016: 'Dangerous Woman'

Ariana also embarked on her biggest tour to date - the 'Dangerous Woman Tour' supporting her third album 'Dangerous Woman'. Devastatingly, her show at Manchester Arena on 22nd May 2017 ended with a horrific tragedy when a bomb killed 22 people and injured many others.

Following the terrible events of that night, messages of support for those affected poured in from around the world, including many from pop stars and celebrities.

Ariana, along with her team, worked quickly to put on a show that would bring everyone together at such a difficult time. Less than two weeks after the attack, the One Love Manchester benefit concert took place, with a line-up that included Katy Perry, Little Mix, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and many more artists - as well as Ariana herself.

2016: 'Dangerous Woman'

22 people tragically lost their lives: Alison Howe, Angelika Klis, Chloe Rutherford, Eilidh MacLeod, Elaine McIver, Georgina Callander, Jane Tweddle-Taylor, John Atkinson, Kelly Brewster, Liam Curry, Lisa Lees, Marcin Klis, Martyn Hett, Megan Hurley, Michelle Kiss, Nell Jones, Olivia Campbell, Saffie Roussos, Sorrell Leczkowski, Wendy Fawell, Courtney Boyle and Philip Tron.