The Tournament of Roses named Broadway star Audra McDonald its 2024 grand marshal for its 135th Rose Parade. A Grammy Award winning and six-time Tony Award winning singer-actress is the personification of the parade’s theme “Celebrating a World of Music.”
McDonald joins an eclectic mix of astronauts, entertainers, military leaders, politicians, sports stars, well-known figures from the worlds of business, journalism and science — a cartoon character and two beloved puppets — on a list that dates back to the 1890 inaugural Rose Parade.
How many do you remember or recognize?
2020s
2020 – Laurie Hernández, Rita Moreno and Gina Torres
2021 – None (parade cancelled amid coronavirus pandemic.)
2022 – LeVar Burton
2023 – Gabby Giffords
2010s
2010 – Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III
2011 – Paula Deen
2012 – J. R. Martinez
2013 – Jane Goodall
2014 – Vin Scully
2015 – Louis Zamperini (posthumous)
2016 – Ken Burns
2017 – Greg Louganis, Janet Evans and Allyson Felix
2018 – Gary Sinise
2019 – Chaka Khan
2000s
2000 – Roy E. Disney
2001 – Tom Brokaw
2002 – Regis Philbin
2003 – Bill Cosby, Art Linkletter and Fred Rogers
2004 – John Williams
2005 – Mickey Mouse
2006 – Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
2007 – George Lucas
2008 – Emeril Lagasse
2009 – Cloris Leachman
1990s
1990 – Sen. John Glenn
1991 – Bob Newhart
1992 – Cristóbal Colón de Carvajal y Gorosábel, 18th Duke of Veragua (descendant of Christopher Columbus) and Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
1993 – Angela Lansbury
1994 – William Shatner
1995 – Juan “Chi-Chi” Rodríguez
1996 – Kermit the Frog
1997 – Carl Lewis and Shannon Miller
1998 – Carol Burnett
1999 – Buzz Aldrin, Shirley Temple Black, Jackie Robinson (posthumous) and David L. Wolper
1980s
1980 – Frank Sinatra
1981 – Lorne Greene
1982 – James Stewart
1983 – Merlin Olsen
1984 – Danny Kaye
1985 – Lee A. Iacocca
1986 – Erma…
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