Jon Bon Jovi Accepts 2024 MusiCares Award, Says He Is ‘Definitely’ Playing at Son Jake’s Wedding (Exclusive)

Jon Bon Jovi is this year’s MusiCares Person of the Year!

The rock icon was honored Friday by the Recording Academy philanthropic organization for his contributions to music and philanthropy. A ceremony and tribute concert was held in his honor at the Los Angeles Convention Center ahead of the upcoming Grammy Awards on Sunday.

As this year’s laureate, the Bon Jovi frontman was recognized for his efforts in establishing the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation to alleviate hunger and homelessness, and on the red carpet before accepting the award, the musician also gave fans an exciting glimpse of his son Jake Bongiovi and Millie’s upcoming wedding Bobby Brown.

When asked if he will perform at the wedding of the couple who got engaged in April 2023, he exclusively tells PEOPLE: “Yes, definitely.”

Taking the stage to accept his award on Friday night, the rocker first paid an emotional tribute to his friend Bruce Springsteen — with whom he also duetted on “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” that night — acknowledging the recent death of the singer’s mother ” Born to Run”.

“I want to thank my friend and mentor Bruce Springsteen. Bruce and Pam’s mom passed away two days ago,” Bon Jovi began. “When I first got the news, he was already on a plane on his way here. I would certainly understand if he said he couldn’t come, but he wanted to be here tonight for MusiCares. He wanted to be here tonight for me, and I’m your forever grateful.”

[L-R] Paul McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen at the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Jon Bon Jovi during the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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He then paid tribute to another music legend, saying: “I have to pay tribute to the former recipient of this award, Sir Paul McCartney, but I think it’s fair to say that the reason most, if not all of us, are in this room tonight is because you, so thank you for being beautiful.”

Thanking MusiCares for the “honor” he received, he added that while he appreciates the applause, he feels he should be thanking others.

“Everything I’ve accomplished, with or without the band, or in my philanthropic life, has had the support of my family, my friends, bandmates, collaborators, and an army of volunteers who were willing to take my dreams and turn them into reality,” he said. is. The singer went on to celebrate children who have started playing instruments or singing, before adding: “Music moves us. It moves us when we’re happy and comforts us when we’re sad. It brings us together even when we may not have much in common, there’s still that the common thread that is the song.”

(LR) Bruce Springsteen and honoree Jon Bon Jovi perform during the MusiCares 2024 Person of the Year honoring Jon Bon Jovi during the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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He then shared a touching anecdote about “the opportunity to bring back my first electric guitar.”

“I sold it in 1979 to a neighborhood kid for a hundred dollars. When he sold it to me recently, he said, ‘That’s where it belonged, at home.’ And when I took that guitar out of that cardboard box, it only had five strings, and I still believe the sweat marks are mine. I doubt that kid ever played. The first thing I did was hold it, hold it, and then I wrote a song about it,” he revealed.

Describing his guitar as “a best friend for life. That instrument will never let you down,” the legendary frontman described his journey in the music business as “blessed,” before praising MusiCares “for helping our people, our tribe, our brothers and our sisters. Thank you all for your financial support of our industry and thank you all for your support of MusiCares.”

Finally, Bon Jovi praised those who performed during the event — which included, in addition to Springsteen, Melissa Ethridge, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Pat Monahan, Shania Twain and the Goo Goo Dolls — and ended his speech by saying, “This is a page from my endless hymnals in my dream book. Thank you.”

In addition to the star-studded list of musical acts, guests of the evening also included Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz, Gayle King, Katherine McPhee, Ted Danson and Sabrina Carpenter.

Honorie Jon Bon Jovi attends the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Jon Bon Jovi during the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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Roker founded the JBJ Soul Foundation nearly two decades ago as a non-profit organization with the goal of providing relief, social services and job training opportunities to those who are homeless and hungry.

Along with the organization, the rock legend founded the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a non-profit community restaurant in his native New Jersey, which serves both patrons who pay by donation and those who need a free meal.

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Jon Bon Jovi in ​​Miami Beach in May 2023.

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The “Livin’ On a Prayer” artist was named the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year in October.

At the time, MusiCares executive director Laura Segura shared a statement expressing the organization’s excitement to celebrate the musicians. “His extraordinary contribution to rock and roll not only left an indelible mark on the music industry, but also on the hearts of countless fans around the world,” Segura said. “Furthermore, his long-standing commitment to serving the homeless and homeless inspires us all. We look forward to celebrating him and the many ways he has made a difference in this world.”

The one-time Grammy winner and 11-time nominee joins an impressive list of past MusiCare Person of the Year winners. In 2023, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson received the title, and artists such as Aerosmith, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell, among others, have received the honor in the past.

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