Missy Elliott has won four Grammys and is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. And on Friday night, the groundbreaking rapper-singer-songwriter-producer had an extra bright smile as she was officially honored for being a hometown hero.
At the Hampton, Virginia stop of her “Out Of This World: The Experience” Missy received the honor from Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott and Mayor Donnie Tuck just across Chesapeake Bay from her birthplace in Portsmouth. She was lauded by fans, tourmates — including her longtime collaborator, local native and high school friend Timbaland — as well as local and government officials.
She got her flowers toward the end of the concert — which was reviewed by Variety last month — from Scott, who’s served as the area’s Congressman since 1993. Elliott was honored with “ Missy Elliott Day” by the city of Portsmouth in 2022, complete with a street named after her and a key to the city. In observation of the accolade. she donated $50,000 to the city’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority , which enabled 26 families to remain in their homes.