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Home · Celebrity

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who've Been Handed Keys To The City

By Sydney Scott · Updated October 26, 2020
5271861164001

Big Sean received the key to Detroit on Saturday, becoming the youngest person in the city’s history to ever receive the honor. 

While being given the key to a city is more for sentiment than function, the key doesn’t open anything, it’s a nice gesture and, in Big Sean’s case, a way to celebrate an artist who’s done a lot for their city.

The rapper joins a number of celebs who’ve been awarded keys to various cities across the US. Here are 15 celebrities who’ve received the honor. 

01
Usher

The R&B icon was awarded the key to New Orleans for his efforts in rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina. 

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Erika Goldring/WireImage
02
Lil Kim

Kim has keys to Miami and Los Angeles, but when will she receive her much-deserved key to Brooklyn?!

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
getty images
03
Jennifer Hudson

Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson has a key Cincinnati.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
getty images
04
BB King

The late blues icon was given the keys to Cleveland in 1968.

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Jordi Vidal/Redferns
05
Kendrick Lamar

Lamar was awarded the key to Compton by the town’s mayor Aja Brown.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
06
Dionne Warwick

Warwick holds the key to Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Star Gazing 8.22.16
Terry Wyatt
07
“Black or White,” Michael Jackson

The late music legend was awarded the keys to Chicago in 1988.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Getty Images
08
Bryson Tiller

Not only does Tiller have the keys to Louisville, but March 12 is also known as Bryson Tiller Day in the Kentucky town.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Scott Dudelson
09
Diana Ross

The icon holds the key to Sarasota, Florida.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
George Pimentel/WireImage
10
Aretha Franklin

Franklin received the key to Cleveland during a star-studded tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images
11
Ludacris

Ludacris was awarded the key to Atlanta for his philanthropy and dedication to the city. 

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
12
Diddy

Sean “Diddy” Combs holds the key to Miami Beach.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Getty Images
13
Selita Ebanks

Ebanks, along with a number of Victoria’s Secret models, was given the key to Los Angeles in 2006. 

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Laura Cavanaugh
14
Foxy Brown

Brown was pretty low key about the news, but announced to fans lat year that she’d received the key to her hometown, Brooklyn. She shared on Instagram, “Wow!!!!!!!! Only ONE Chick Alone Got The “KEY” To Her HOME #BROOKLYN!!!!!!! It’s OFFICIAL! BK Is #MINE! #TheKEY”

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Mychal Watts/WireImage
15
Stevie Wonder

The 25-time Grammy-winning legend was born May 13.

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images
16
Big Sean

Big Sean became the youngest person in history to receive the key to Detroit after receiving the honor in April. 

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
getty images
17
Solange

The singer received the key to New Orleans last year, telling fans on Instagram, “NEW ORLEANS, from the bottom of my soul, I am so thankful.”

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Tim Mosenfelder
18
Michael Vick
Former NFL Pro Mike Vick was born on June 26.
Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Getty Images
19
Kimora Lee Simmons

Simmons’ hometown of  St. Louis honored her with a key to the city.

Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City
Steve Granitz/WireImage
20
50 Cent
The emotionally charged rapper celebrates a birthday on July 6.
Major Key Alert! 17 Celebs Who’ve Been Handed Keys To The City

© Dia Dipasupil 2015

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