If you’re not familiar with the inner workings of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you may not know that it’s actually quite an extensive process to get a star on the Los Angeles landmark. In addition to a successful career, nominees must be approved by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, agree to attend the ceremony and pay the $75,000 sponsorship fee. The Chamber’s approval and the fee are often an obstacle for older artists to receive a star. However, as we’ve chronicled, there are also cultural barriers, as it sometimes takes much longer than it should for Black legends to receive their flowers.
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With the Hollywood Walk of Fame announcing its class of 2025, we once again see a list of notable Black stars who are finally getting their well deserved recognition. Groundbreaking ballet dancer Misty Copeland; hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes; actor/director Bill Duke; actress/singer Fantasia; and talk show host/comedian Sherri Shepherd are all in line to receive stars in 2025. However, there are some artists who we can’t believe are just getting stars and we need to ask how has it taken this long for them to be celebrated?
Prince
The game-changing, influential musician will receive posthumous recognition with his star, which falls under a different set of rules. There’s a five year waiting period after the artist passes away and someone must agree to attend the ceremony on their behalf. We imagine this was the barrier to Prince receiving a star while he was alive and probably why it took four extra years after his death.
Prince rarely made huge public appearances to accept awards and honors. Yes, he occasionally used those moments as a time to recognize his collaborators, but a Walk of Fame ceremony probably wouldn’t have been his cup of tea.
Nia Long
Nia Long is the culture’s No. 1 It Girl. We can’t fathom a world where she’s not celebrated for her decades-long career. From “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” to “Friday,” to “Love Jones,” to “The Best Man” franchise, she’s left an indelible mark on film and television.
Honestly, we thought she would have already received a star during the lead up to one of her recent films or series. It’s just plain ridiculous that Nia Long is just now getting a star in 2025.
The Isley Brothers
We know The Isley Brothers certainly meet the “professional achievement” and “longevity” requirements. But the group has been locked in a prolonged legal battle over the trademark to the band’s name, which may be one reason why it’s taken so long for them to get a star.
It’s unclear if the delay in receiving a star came from the Chamber or the Isleys, but either way, we’re thrilled to see the R&B/funk pioneers finally honored.
Courtney B. Vance
Courtney B. Vance is being recognized for his work in TV, which makes sense, as he’s appeared in countless acclaimed TV movies and every major series of the last 25 years. There is no such thing as a lackluster Courtney B. Vance performance, because he’s incapable of delivering one.
And you know we can’t skip a chance to shout out how he and his wife, Angela Bassett, are relationship goals.
Glynn Turman
At this point, what can we say about the legendary Glynn Turman? From “Cooley High,” to “A Different World,” to “Rustin,” to “Women of the Movement,” he has spent his career uplifting our culture and telling our stories. With the upcoming film “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,” as well as the TV series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” and “The Big Cigar,” the 77-year-old shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
And just in case you’re interested, other popular artists receiving stars in 2025 include Jessica Chastain; Robert Englund; Colin Farrell, Jane Fonda; Green Day; and WAR.
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