Ariana Grande made honorary citizen of Manchester: 'I'm moved and honored'

July 13 (UPI) -- Ariana Grande felt "moved and honored" after being made an honorary citizen of Manchester, Great Britain this week.

The 24-year-old singer thanked officials in a post early Thursday after they named her an honorary citizen for her involvement in the One Love benefit concert following a deadly attack in Manchester in May.

"I don't know what to say. Words don't suffice. I'm moved and honored. My heart is very much still there. I love you. Thank you," she wrote on Instagram.

The Guardian reported Manchester officials voted unanimously at a meeting Wednesday to award Grande with the distinction. Council leader Richard Leese put forward the motion, describing Grande as "a young American woman for whom it would have been understandable if she never wanted to see this place again."

"But no -- instead she, as an artist, a performer, was determined that she would not perform again until she had returned to Manchester to perform," Leese said.

"In doing so, she brought comfort to thousands, she raised millions for the We Love Manchester emergency fund and became the first patron of that fund," he added. "And that's why I propose that Ariana Grande is made the first honorary citizen of the city of Manchester."

Grande helped organize the One Love concert after 22 people were killed in a bombing May 22 at her show in Manchester. She and other stars, including Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, performed at the One Love event, which raised more than $3 million for victims.