Streisand awarded French Legion of Honor

PARIS, June 29 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented American diva Barbra Streisand, fresh from her first-ever concert in France, the country's highest civilian honor.

"You are the America that we love," Sarkozy said while presenting Streisand the Legion of Honor medal during a ceremony in Paris, the BBC reported Friday. "Women like you ... do a lot to bring our two peoples together."

Streisand attended Thursday's ceremony at the Elysee Palace with her husband, James Brolin, and her son, Jason Gould. Other guests included French singer Charles Aznavour and actor Alain Delon.

The 65-year-old singer told Sarkozy he reminded her of former U.S. presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, "who appreciated art and recognized the importance of the arts in the world."

Streisand sang at Paris' Bercy stadium Tuesday before an audience of 10,000, including Sarkozy's wife, Cecilia.