The Minnesota Congressional delegation will posthumously award Prince the Congressional Gold Medal because of his “indelible mark on Minnesota and American culture.”  

The prestigious medal is one of the country’s highest civilian honors. Past recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal include Rosa Parks, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Navajo Code Talkers, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, George Washington and the Wright Brothers.  

“The world is a whole lot cooler because Prince was in it — he touched our hearts, opened our minds, and made us want to dance,” said Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who represents the state, in a statement. “With this legislation, we honor his memory and contributions as a composer, performer, and music innovator. Purple reigns in Minnesota today and every day because of him.”  

Prince created a lifetime of hits, such as “Purple Rain,” “Little Red Corvette,” ″Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry.” 

Related: Prince’s ‘Sign o’ The Times’: A Timeless Masterpiece 

On April 21, 2016, the global star died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Prince was 57.  

Prince compiled an assortment of awards: seven Grammys, six American Music Awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Purple Rain. 

He is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and sold more than 150 million records worldwide. The movie Purple Rain was added by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry. 

“Prince is a Minnesota icon,” said U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar in a statement, a Democrat who represents Minneapolis in the House. “He showed that it was OK to be a short, Black kid from Minneapolis and still change the world. He not only changed the arc of music history; he put Minneapolis on the map.” 

Related: IRS Says Executors Undervalued Prince’s Estate by 50%