Aretha Franklin to receive TV Land Music Icon Award

It's always been a bit questionable why an awards show (in the loosest sense of the word) for classic TV shows has a category for music icons. It always appeared it was a way to breakup the evening of reunited TV casts with a bit of music by artists like Blondie and Hall & Oates.

This year, TV Land has selected Aretha Franklin to receive the Music Icon Award. If all goes as it has in the past, Franklin will perform during the awards show.

The award was added to the show in 2008, the sixth edition of the awards. Previous winners are Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind and Fire, Blondie and Hall & Oates.

The show is being taped on Saturday, April 14 with Kelly Ripa hosting and will begin airing on Sunday, April 29.