Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning Barry Manilow and four-time Emmy, Golden Globe winning actress/author and activist Marlo Thomas, who was also awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama, will be presented with the American Advertising Federation’s 2026 President’s Award. The announcement was made by AAF this morning to help kickoff Advertising Week New York 2025.
The President’s Award recognizes an individual’s special lifetime contributions to advertising. It will be presented on April, 23, 2026 as part of the AAF’s Advertising Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at Cipriani Wall Street. Past recipients of the President’s Award have included Spike Lee, Michael J. Fox, Robert DeNiro and, most recently, Annie Liebovitz, in 2022.
Manilow is a global superstar who began his career in advertising. He has produced, composed and performed some of the most iconic commercial jingles of all time for companies and brands such as State Farm, Band-Aid, KFC, Pepsi, McDonald’s and more, exemplifying the transformative power of music and lyrics in marketing and branding. From “Like a good neighbor” to “Have a barrel of fun”, “Join the Pepsi generation,” “Give your face something to smile about,” “I’m stuck on Band Aid” and “You deserve a break today,” Manilow’s memorable jingles have stood the test of time and continue to impact our culture. With a career spanning more than five decades, Manilow has become one of the most celebrated entertainers in history and earned the title of the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time by Billboard. He has sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, and earned 51 Top-40 singles, including 13 #1s and 28 Top-10 hits.
Thomas has profoundly influenced culture through a career that blends entertainment, advocacy and purpose-driven communication. Her work as national outreach director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has led to iconic campaigns, including the one she created–the annual holiday St. Jude Thanks and Giving® initiative, that raised over a billion dollars in the past 20+ years, and redefined how storytelling can spark empathy and inspire action. From TV’S first single working woman, That Girl, Free to Be…You and Me to decades of tireless dedication to the mission of St. Jude, she has championed inclusivity, challenged societal norms, and empowered generations. An eight time New York Times best-selling author, Thomas has used her public influence for values-based messaging, showing how advertising builds a more compassionate society, now and into the future.
“The prestigious President’s Award is given to public figures whose primary careers are not in advertising, but whose work has made significant contributions to our industry. It is a recognition that is not given annually, but at the discretion of the AAF Council of Judges. On this special occasion, I cannot wait to celebrate Barry and Marlo as they remind us of the great hold and impact advertising has–and continues to have–on our culture,” said Steve Pacheco, president and CEO of AAF.
In recognition of this honor, AAF will also be making contributions to causes that are close to each President’s Award recipient. For Manilow, it’s the Manilow Music Project, which empowers underfunded school music programs to provide quality music education. And for Thomas, that cause is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“When I was just starting out, I never imagined that the jingles I wrote to pay the rent would still be remembered–let alone celebrated–all these years later,” said Manilow. “To be recognized by the American Advertising Federation with the President’s Award is both humbling and deeply meaningful. Advertising gave me one of my very first creative playgrounds, and those early lessons about melody, storytelling, and connection have stayed with me throughout my career.”
Thomas commented, “This is an especially touching award for me because, throughout my career, I’ve always embraced my relationship with my advertisers on any project I’ve done as part of the work. I’ve learned throughout my years working with St. Jude that people basically want to do good. And they want to work with companies with a heart. And the best way to bring them together is through advertising and marketing. Advertisers and sponsors provide a path for audiences and the really good ones–like our St. Jude partners–create an action plan bringing good people to us and in return, we send them back to our partners. When you can get a win-win like that with your advertiser, it’s the best kind of symbiotic relationship.
