Legendary playback singer Alka Yagnik was conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor, by President Droupadi Murmu on June 23, 2026. The ceremony took place during the second investiture event at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.
Following the ceremony, the veteran artist shared a deeply personal note on social media, opening up about her prolonged two-year absence from the public eye due to severe health challenges and expressing her gratitude to fans for their unwavering support.
Key Highlights from Her Message
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A Two-Year Battle Away from the Spotlight: Alka Yagnik revealed that she has deliberately stayed away from public appearances and the spotlight for the last two years to focus on her health recovery.
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A Symbol of Resilience: She described receiving the honor as a milestone of strength and resilience, noting that she is “slowly finding her way back” to normalcy. She emphasized that she chose to step out and attend the ceremony as a tribute to her listeners.
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Dedication to Her Fans: While acknowledging the humbling nature of the national award, she stated that the honor belongs just as much to the millions of listeners who have carried her songs across generations and supported her through her personal health crisis.
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Gratitude to National Leadership: The singer extended her deepest thanks to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Government of India for conferring the extraordinary recognition upon her.
Context of Her Health Journey
Alka Yagnik’s public health battle became widely known in June 2024, when she courageously revealed a diagnosis of a rare sensory neural hearing loss. The condition occurred suddenly after she stepped off a flight, resulting in a severe disruption to her hearing. Her attendance at Rashtrapati Bhavan marks one of her most significant public appearances since the diagnosis.
Holding legendary status in Indian cinema, Alka Yagnik holds the record for singing the maximum number of female solo songs in Bollywood, alongside icons Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.
