Congratulations to singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter Rhiannon Giddens, who has been named a MacArthur Fellow. Giddens is among the twenty-four new MacArthur Fellow for 2017, selected by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The annual fellowship, often referred to as the "Genius" grant, offers an unrestricted award of $625,000, distributed over five years, to individuals who, in the Foundation's words, "have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction." Giddens discusses her work and the fellowship in a MacArthur Foundation video here:

"I am just thrilled," Giddens said of being awarded the Fellowship. "So many things I want to do. But the first thing is to thank whoever nominated and supported me for this grant. It means the world to me, and to the projects I have been longing to do." She added in an interview with her home town paper, North Carolina’s News & Observer: "It's gonna let me live a little bit. I’ll be able to pursue some things while not having to stay on the road so much to keep the lights on. This will let me tour a little less and work on larger projects I believe need to be done."

Among the year's recipients, in addition to Giddens, are historians, scientists, human rights and social justice organizers, theater artists, writers, and more.

"From transforming conditions for low-wage workers to identifying internet security vulnerabilities, from celebrating the African American string band tradition to designing resilient urban habitats, these new MacArthur Fellows bring their exceptional creativity to diverse people, places, and social challenges," says Cecilia Conrad, Managing Director, MacArthur Fellows Program. "Their work gives us reason for optimism and inspires us all."

The Foundation says of Rhiannon Giddens: "With extraordinary vocal abilities and emotional range afforded by her classical training, Giddens is a powerful presence on stage, and her explanations of the historical and social contexts for the music she performs further demonstrate how discrete musical approaches can inform one another. Giddens's drive to understand and convey the nuances, complexities, and interrelationships between musical traditions is enhancing our musical present with a wealth of sounds and textures from the past."

Since 1981, 989 people have been named MacArthur Fellows. Rhiannon Giddens joins an esteemed group of past recipients, a number with ties to Nonesuch Records, including pianist and writer Jeremy Denk (2013), mandolinist/composer Chris Thile (2012), soprano Dawn Upshaw (2007), John Zorn (2006), and director Peter Sellars (1983), a frequent collaborator of John Adams.

For more on the MacArthur Foundation and a complete list of this year's Fellows, visit macfound.org.