The honor – which recognizes a performing or recording artist who has contributed to the legacy of the guitar – marks the first time the award has been in memoriam.
"It is perhaps fitting that we don't need to explain why Eddie is deserving of such an honor,” says the organization. “Everyone who has ever heard his guitar playing knows. Eddie certainly would have received this award at some point in the future, as it seemed that he still had a lifetime of guitar greatness to give.
"Several of the people we've honored over the past decade have left us in the years since we presented them with the award. In this case, however, the sadness of Eddie Van Halen's passing is somehow harder to accept.
"Thanks, Eddie. We only wish we could deliver this in person."
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award honorees include B.B. King, Tony Iommi, and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds.
The National Guitar Museum was founded to promote and preserve the legacy of the guitar; it is the world's first museum dedicated to the history, evolution, and cultural impact of the guitar; learn more at nationalguitarmuseum.com.
Eddie passed away on October 6 at the age of 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Van Halen were named the No. 2 Rock News Artist Of The Year as part of the 2020 hennemusic Rock News Awards.
See also:
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 2: VAN HALEN
Rock News Story Of The Year No. 3: WOLFGANG VAN HALEN
Eddie Van Halen’s cause of death revealed
Rock News Story Of The Year No. 7: VAN HALEN
Search Van Halen at hennemusic
