Neil Diamond wins Billboard Icon Award

Legendary singer and songwriter Neil Diamond will receive the 2011 Billboard Icon Award at this weekend's Billboard Music Awards. Diamond will also take to the stage and perform.

The award, which honors the cultural impact of an artist whose extraordinary talent as a creator, writer, and entertainer has stood the test of time, will be presented at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

Hosted by Ken Jeong, the awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday from 8-11 p.m. on 6ABC.

Diamond has sold more than 128 million records worldwide, achieving 39 top 10 singles and 18 platinum albums.

He has been a force on the Billboard charts for more than 40 years, scoring a combined 12 No. 1 hits on the Billboard 200, Hot 100, and AC Charts.

Reinforcing his staying power, Diamond scored his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 - after 45 prior chart visits - just three years ago when "Home Before Dark" opened atop the chart in 2008.

Diamond is the only artist to score a top 20 hit in each decade since Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart launched in 1961, with his first hit, "Sweet Caroline," in 1969.

With 17 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, he ranks among the top four male singers with the most such hit collections, and is one of just four men to scale the Billboard 200's top 10 in each decade since the 1960's.

Among men in the chart's five-decade history, Diamond has the 10th most Billboard Hot 100 hits, with 53.

This week, Billboard announced that Kylie Minogue, Matthew Morrison, Joe Jonas, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Tim Allen, Keri Hilson, Kelly Rowland, Nas, Rico Rodriguez, Scott Weiland, Travis Barker and Trey Songz will be presenters at the awards.

They join previously announced musical acts Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Keith Urban, Pitbull, Lady Antebellum, Far East Movement, Ne-Yo, OneRepublic and Taio Cruz.

Beyoncé is set to receive the 2011 Billboard Millennium Award for her career achievements.

- Billboard