Italian pop princess Laura Pausini, who recently became the first Italian woman to win a Grammy, has now been awarded one of the country's top honours for achievements in the arts.
Pausini, 31, is to be made a 'Commendatore' of the prestigious Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the president's office.
The singer was feted by the Italian pop world earlier this month after she picked up this year's Grammy award for best Latin pop album. Grammys are considered the 'Oscars' of the global music industry.
Pausini, who has a huge following in Latin America, has sold over 22 million records worldwide, since exploding onto the Italian music scene by winning the country's top song contest at the age of 18.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi also announced 'Commendatore' honours for two other stars of Italian pop, blues rocker Zucchero and modern crooner Eros Ramazzotti.
Ciampi awarded the slightly higher 'Grand'Ufficiale' honour to the popular operatic singer Andrea Boccelli.
Pausini, Zucchero, Ramazzotti and Boccelli are arguably the best-known names in Italian music throughout the world.
