On Friday, November 16, US President Donald Trump will award seven prominent people with the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the country's highest civilian award.

One of the recipients of the award will be - posthumously - the famous American singer Elvis Presley, who died in 1977.

"Elvis Presley revealed American culture to billions of fans who adored him around the world. Elvis managed to fuse gospel, country and rhythm-and-blues to create his own sound, and sell over a billion records, ”the White House said in a statement..

"Elvis also served almost two years in the US Army, respectfully accepting the call for service, despite his fame," the statement says..

The White House recalled that Presley later starred in 31 films and won the Grammy Award three times for gospel music..

"Elvis Presley remains the eternal American idol four decades after his death," the statement reads..

Other recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom include doctor and philanthropist Miriam Adelson, Senator Orrin Hatch, lawyer, athlete and philanthropist Alan Paget, baseball player George Herman Ruth Jr. (posthumously), Supreme Court judge Antonin Scalia (posthumously) and football player Roger Staubach.

The White House recalled that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded “for a special contribution to ensuring security or protecting US national interests, strengthening world peace, cultural or other significant public or private initiatives”.