Actress-writer-producer Issa Rae and comedian-actress Lily Tomlin have been named, respectively, winners of the Peabody Trailblazer Award and the Peabody Career Achievement Award. Both honors were selected by unanimous vote of the Peabody Board of Jurors and will be celebrated live at the 83rd Annual Peabody Awards ceremony, hosted by actress and comedian Jessica Williams, on June 11. This will mark the first time in Peabody history that the awards proceedings take place in Los Angeles.

“Beyond our annual awards recognizing the most compelling stories, Peabody is dedicated to recognizing individuals that inspire and delight us,” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “Lily Tomlin has made so many people laugh over the decades with her remarkable talent, and Issa Rae has proven herself a profound entertainment storyteller, performer, and force for good. We’re thrilled to recognize Issa and Lily for not only their extraordinary contributions to storytelling, but also for their important role and place for women in comedy and entertainment.”

As for the naming of Williams--who currently stars on the Apple TV+ comedy-drama Shrinking--as Peabody Awards ceremony emcee, Jones said,  “Since breaking onto the scene with her hysterical segments on The Daily Show, Jessica’s wit, wisdom, and powerful performances have established her as not only a comedic force, but also one of the great young actresses working today. We relish pretty much every moment Jessica appears on the screen and we are so thrilled that she will be hosting our first awards ceremony to take place in Los Angeles.” 
 
The Trailblazer Award recognizes visionaries who are impacting our culture and affecting social change through their innovative storytelling. With Peabody-winning Insecure, in addition to A Black Lady Sketch Show and Rap Sh!t, Rae’s television career achievements have set new standards for programming that reflect the values and breadth of Peabody’s mission to honor stories that matter. Rae’s work with HOORAE, Raedio, and ColorCreative across television, music, film, and digital is changing, challenging, and disrupting traditional Hollywood production models. The Trailblazer Award recognizes creative talent that is literally blazing a trail of excellence in media.

The Career Achievement Award is reserved for individuals whose work and commitment to broadcasting and streaming media have left an indelible mark on the field and in American culture. Over the course of her distinguished career, Tomlin has received two Peabodys, seven Emmys, two Tonys and a Grammy. In 1976, Tomlin was nominated for an Academy Award for Nashville. In 2003, she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and, in December 2014, was the recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in Washington DC. In 2017, Tomlin received the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, SAG-AFTRA’s highest accolade. 

Tomlin joins Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Cicely Tyson, Dan Rather, and Sam Pollard as recent winners of the Peabody Career Achievement Award.