Line Renaud elevated to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor during a ceremony at the Élysée

She began her long artistic career, punctuated by subsequent engagements, in the mid-1940s… Singer, actress and magazine leader Line Renaud was raised on Friday evening, September 2, at the Élysée, at the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, during a ceremony presided over by the Head of State. The rank of Grand Cross in the Order of the Legion of Honor is the highest Republican distinction, also awarded in recent years to actors Michèle Morgan and Michel Bouquet, painter Pierre Soulages, writer Jean d’Ormesson and to the philosopher Edgar Morin.

“Through this dizzying career that makes France proud, through your multiple commitments, you have contributed to the influence of our country”, underlined Emmanuel Macron in the presence of many personalities representing the worlds of entertainment, politics and scientific research. “I have the immense honor and happiness to elevate you to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor”, said the President of the Republic, addressing Line Renaud his “huge recognition” and welcoming in particular the commitment of the singer and actress in favor of research against AIDS by co-creating the association Sidaction.

“The right to die with dignity is a fight which resembles you and which obliges us”, estimated Emmanuelle Macron, referring to Line Renaud’s latest commitment. “With Welcome to the Ch’tis, you have written a new chapter of your legend. (…) For the French, you have become a compass”, he added, reviewing the career of the eternal “Lady of Armentieres”. “Your destiny began like a French novel and continued like a Hollywood tale. (…) For a President of the Republic, you are an invitation to humility”, said Emmanuel Macron again.

Muriel Robin, Claude Chirac and Dany Boon, the “children at heart” by Line Renaud – which was celebrated a few days ago at the Angoulême film festival -, but also Pascal Obispo, Nana Mouskouri, Claude Lelouch, Pierre Arditi, Nathalie Baye, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, the president of Sidaction and 2008 winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, or former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin were among the many personalities present.