Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Oprah Winfrey will be honored with the prestigious 2018 Cecil B. DeMille Award at the upcoming 75th Annual Golden Globes.
Morgan Freeman, who received the award in 2012, announced that Winfrey would be receiving the award Wednesday during NBC's airing of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globes 75th Anniversary Special.
"Let me be the first to congratulate you because you're in for an incredible night," Freeman said to Winfrey.
The award is given each year at the Golden Globes to someone who has "made an incredible impact on the world of entertainment."
Congratulations @Oprah, the @GoldenGlobes 2018 Cecil B. deMille Award Honoree! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/U5vjTYpLJi
— OprahWinfrey Network (@OWNTV) December 14, 2017
"As a global media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress, she has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today," HFPA president Meher Tatna said in a statement.
"Holding titles such as Chairman, CEO and Founder, Oprah is one of the most influential women of our time, and this honor is well deserved especially in this 75th anniversary year of the Golden Globe Awards," she continued.
Winfrey commented on being nominated on Twitter writing, "What an honor."
What an honor. https://t.co/YA9se852Eg
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) December 14, 2017
Winfrey was previously nominated for a Golden Globe in 1986 for her role in The Color Purple. The 63-year-old will be joining a class of past recipients that includes Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Lucille Ball, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Sidney Poitier, Sophia Loren and Steven Spielberg, among others.
The Golden Globes will be airing live, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.
