Soprano Renée Fleming has been awarded the 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal for her contributions to American music. President Obama awarded the honour yesterday in a ceremony at the White House.

A White House Statement praised the Grammy Award-winning singer’s contribution to a variety of musical genres, describing her as ‘the people’s diva’. “Ms Fleming has captivated audiences around the world with an adventurous repertoire spanning opera and the classical tradition to jazz and contemporary pop,” the citation reads.