Yoko Ono Receives ‘Imagine’ Songwriting Credit

Yesterday, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) bestowed John Lennon’s “Imagine” with the National Music Publishers Association Centennial Song Award. During Wednesday’s ceremony at NMPA’s Centennial Annual Meeting in New York, Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono was surprised by being given co-writing credit for the beloved “Song Of The Century.”

NMPA president and CEO David Israelite credited Ono as a co-writer of the popular 1971 song while presenting the Centennial Song Award. Lennon and Ono’s son Sean Ono Lennon was in attendance, here’s how he described the “proudest day” of his life:

Proudest day of my life: The National Music Publishers Association just gave the Centennial (Song Of The Century) Award to “Imagine,” but WAIT! Surprise! They played an audio interview of my father saying (approximately), “’Imagine'” should’ve been credited as a Lennon/Ono song, if it had been anyone other than my wife I would’ve given them credit.” Cut to: my mother welling up in tears, and then Patti and Jesse Smith played “Imagine!” Patience is a virtue!

(PS then they officially declared “Imagine” to be a Lennon/Ono song!)

Yesterday’s event also saw Pharrell Williams honored by the NMPA with their Centennial Songwriter Icon Award.

[Hat Tip – Billboard]