Beloved Celebrity Icons We Lost in 2024

For many of us personally, we suffered from a lot of loss in 2024. But as a culture, we lost some of our most beloved icons in music, arts, and entertainment. Here are a few in memoriam. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for FLC ) 1. Nikki Giovanni Nikki Giovanni, one of the most famous and recognizable Black poets, passed away at 81. Giovanni died on Monday, Dec. 9, following her third cancer diagnosis, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson. “We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world,” said poet Kwame Alexander in the statement. Giovanni has been published in many poetry anthologies, released several poetry recordings, nonfiction essays, children’s books, and several essays analyzing race, class, sexism, and other social issues. She has been awarded an unprecedented seven NAACP Image Awards, and has been nominated for a Grammy. She has also been a finalist for the National Book Award, and authored three New York Times and Los Angeles Times Best Sellers. Born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni published her first poetry collection, Black Feeling...