Stephen King Awarded National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama

Did Stephen King just have a medal placed around his neck by President Obama? You bet he did! King collected a National Medal of Arts at the White House in a ceremony at which short story aficionado Tobias Wolff, composer Meredith Monk, artist John Baldessari, novelist Jhumpa Lahiri and chef Alice Waters were also honored.

“One of the most popular and prolific writers of our time, Mr. King combines his remarkable storytelling with his sharp analysis of human nature,” President Obama read. “For decades, his works of horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy have terrified and delighted audiences around the world.”

This is a pretty interesting story and an a damn fine accomplishment for the Master of Horror himself. We aren’t aiming to steal away Salon’s full scoop (they’ve got a great write up over there!), so head on over to the site to take in the full details. We just wanted to bring it to your attention and let you know, it’s worth the time!