# Knighthood for celebrities..... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324 "2002-06-16T06:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/1 "2002-06-16T06:11:50Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/14/jagger.knighthood.reut/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/14/jagger.knighthood.reut/index.html) Mick Jagger gets a knighthood, But did he deserve it? Please, would someone explain to me what Mick Jagger, Elton John and Paul McCartney have done to warrent a knighthood? I’m aware that they can sing good songs, but in what way does that entitle you to a knighthood? Maybe a grammy, but a knighthood? I was under the impression a knighthood was something you got because you did something exterodinary, or at least, conducted youself extremely well in a critical situation. Doesn’t giving it away to anyone who is popular just cheapen the award? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/2 "2002-06-16T06:29:12Z")
I don’t know exactly the requirements are to be knighted, but I know Paul McCartney does a lot of charity work, especially in his hometown of Liverpool, is heavily involved with animal rights, and most recently, working on getting rid of all the land-mines. Plus, you know, he was a Beatle. I think Paul McCartney was more than just popular or just a celebrity, he actually contributed more to the world than a few good tunes. As far as Elton John and Mick Jagger is concerned…I have no clue if they really “deserved” it. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/3 "2002-06-16T06:33:07Z")
If Lizzy gave it away to anyone who was popular then you’d be talking about Sir Britney Spears and Sir Adam Sandler. It’s not uncommon for artists to be given knighthoods, and all three musicians you have mentioned have made important contributions to music and have been doing so for a long, long time. In addition, Elton John has been known for doing a lot of charity work – I dunno about the non-music aspect of the other two. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/4 "2002-06-16T06:41:02Z")
GQ is for questions with factual answers. “Does he deserve it?” is a matter of opinion. Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/5 "2002-06-16T07:57:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*If Lizzy gave it away to anyone who was popular then you’d be talking about Sir Britney Spears and Sir Adam Sandler. > \*\* Er-r-r-r… that would be _Dame_ Britney Spears, surely? Unless this Kiwi has said celebrity’s gender completely mixed up? [ABC News](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/DailyNews/SirMick020614.html) presents a slightly cynical view of the whole deal – looks like the old wisdom was right: it ain’t what you know, it’s who you know that counts. Or in this case, who your biggest fan is. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/6 "2002-06-16T09:48:04Z")
There was a very well-argued hatchet job on the whole UK honours system on Channel 4 here yesterday. News presenter Jon Snow had been recommended for an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire). But he felt that accepting it would compromise his independence as a journalist so he turned it down, and the programme discussed all the back-scratching and arse licking that goes on to decide who should get what honour, if any. Naturally there are plenty of cases where the recipient genuinely deserves congratulations for the “good works” they do, but it’s hard to tell them from cases that are no more than a payout for sucking up to the establishment. I vote for scrapping the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/7 "2002-06-16T11:52:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*[http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/14/jagger.knighthood.reut/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/14/jagger.knighthood.reut/index.html) > > Mick Jagger gets a knighthood, But did he deserve it? > > Please, would someone explain to me what Mick Jagger, Elton John and Paul McCartney have done to warrent a knighthood? I’m aware that they can sing good songs, but in what way does that entitle you to a knighthood? Maybe a grammy, but a knighthood? > > I was under the impression a knighthood was something you got because you did something exterodinary, or at least, conducted youself extremely well in a critical situation. > > Doesn’t giving it away to anyone who is popular just cheapen the award? \*\* The music industry is one of the UKs largest money makers. It is customary for “captains of industry” to be knighted for bringing wealth and prosperity to the country, this should be seen in this light. On a related note a friend of mine recieved a MBE in this list, and that surely is a sign that one is getting old when one’s contemporaries are getting gongs (I was once again bafflingly overlooked) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/8 "2002-06-16T12:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*On a related note a friend of mine recieved a MBE in this list, and that surely is a sign that one is getting old when one’s contemporaries are getting gongs (I was once again bafflingly overlooked) \*\* Gongs? ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/9 "2002-06-16T12:35:51Z")
Gong is a slang word for award. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > I was under the impression a knighthood was something you got because you did something exterodinary, or at least, conducted youself extremely well in a critical situation. You may be confusing knighthoods with military decorations. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/10 "2002-06-16T12:42:33Z")
Well, what do you guys feel about actors, then? Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Ian McKellan (I know I misspelled his name, get over it), Sir Paul Rubins…no, wait…anyway, aside from being really old and really good, what else have these two done? They’re good actors, but does that deserve a knighthood? If being a good entertainer is enough, is it possible to one day see Sir Bobo the Clown? I mean, he’s been entertaining children for decades. Or Sir. Mr. Rogers? Anyone know any famous jugglers? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/11 "2002-06-16T12:59:33Z")
Hey, if America did the knighthood thing, I **would** like to see Sir Fred Rogers! I’d also like to see Sir Frank Oz. Too late for Sir Jim Henson :(. I’m not being funny. If McCartney, John and Geldof qualify for charity, then Rogers, Oz and Henson would qualify for education. Well, education through entertainment. But those guys reached a heck of a lot of people. **Jabba** : I see. Also, **Elvis** ; you meant Bozo, right? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/12 "2002-06-16T13:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\* > > The music industry is one of the UKs largest money makers. It is customary for “captains of industry” to be knighted for bringing wealth and prosperity to the country, this should be seen in this light. > \*\* Okay. Then why not Sir Keith Richards? If they’re actually honouring the money the Rolling Stones brought in to Britain (and I can’t why else they’re doing this) then shouldn’t Keif get the sword as well? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knighthood-for-celebrities/114324/13 "2002-06-16T15:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\* > > Okay. Then why not Sir Keith Richards? If they’re actually honouring the money the Rolling Stones brought in to Britain (and I can’t why else they’re doing this) then shouldn’t Keif get the sword as well? \*\* Cause Mick’s the Man.