Popstar Rachel Platten to Receive Inaugural Gracies Impact Award

International popstar Rachel Platten will be honored with the first-ever Gracies Impact Award, which is presented to an artist who has made a positive impact on society through their music, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) announced today.

Her award will accompany a performance at the 42nd Annual Gracie Awards Gala with her chart-topping hits, "Fight Song" and "Stand By You". The event, hosted by The Real's JEANNIE MAI, will take place on June 6 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Gracie Awards honor outstanding individual achievement and programming by, for and about women.

"I'm truly humbled to accept this award and stand alongside such an esteemed group of women," said Platten. "The Alliance of Women in Media has created a legacy of recognizing outstanding women in the industry, and through my music I hope to reflect their same goals and continue to make a lasting impact."

Best known for her emotionally empowering anthems, Rachel Platten first made the transition into a professional singing career after performing in college. The vibrant musician broke through in 2015 with her uplifting pop hit "Fight Song." The multi-platinum selling single topped countless radio and iTunes charts around the globe before being succeeded by her platinum Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Stand by You." Rachel's Gold-certified, major label debut album "Wildfire" was released by Columbia Records in 2016. The singer has won several awards, including the 2016 Daytime EMMY Awards for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Talk Show/Morning Program for her television debut performance of "Fight Song" on Good Morning America. Rachel is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on her new album, expected later this year.

"Rachel's anthemic songs of empowerment and perseverance make her the perfect fit to perform at this year's Gracie Awards," said Sarah Foss, Chief Product Officer, Advertising Management Systems at Imagine Communications and Chair of the AWM/F Board of Directors. "The meaning behind her lyrics serves as a powerful reminder that we need to uplift and empower each other, and rings true to why we celebrate women at the Gracies each year."

Additional attendees of the annual fete include MAndy Moore, Rachel Bloom, Chrissy Metz, Jesse Williams, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Lisa Ling, Natalie Morales, JillIan Rose Reed, Lynn Whitfield, Rehema Ellis, Susan Kelechi Watson, and more. They will join previously announced honoree Debbie Allen, recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by her Grey's Anatomy co-star Jesse Williams and her daughter Vivian Nixon.

Elena of Avalor & Awkward star JillIan Rose Reed will serve as the social media ambassador for the 42nd Annual Gracie Awards. To follow along, tune in on Instagram (@JillianRoseReed) and Twitter (@JillianRoseReed) to get a behind the scenes look leading up to and throughout the show.

Platten's performance at the Gracie Awards is presented by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Gracie Awards Gala tickets are available for purchase at the AWMF's website, allwomeninmedia.org/gracies. National Gracie winners in television, radio and interactive media are recognized at the Gracies Gala in June while top local media and student winners are recognized at The Gracie Awards Luncheon, June 27, 2017 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint initiatives with the Emma Bowen Foundation, NCTA- The Internet and Television Association, NAB and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. In addition to giving almost $20,000 a year away in scholarships to deserving female students, the Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards, a gala that honors exemplary programming created by, for and about women. The 42nd Gracie Awards are sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, Crown Media, CBS, 20th Century Fox Television, CNN, Katz Media Group, NBCUniversal, NCTA- The Internet and Television Association, National Geographic, NPR, Sinclair Broadcast Group, TBS, Discovery, Disney|ABC, HBO, OWN/Lionsgate, PBS/Virginia Film Office, American Public Media, Cumulus and vCreative, For more information about The Alliance for Women in Media, visit allwomeninmedia.org and follow them on Twitter (@AllWomeninMedia #TheGracies) and Facebook.

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