National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

This coming Wednesday, July 19th, Colombian singer/songwriter Juanes will be recognized by the nation of France as a Knight Of The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters). On the morning following Juanes' latest concert in Paris, Minister of Culture Renaud Donneidieu de Vabres will present France's highest artistic honor to the Colombian rocker who has been widely recognized as his country's leading cultural ambassador and social activist.

Juanes remained humbled and honored by news of the recognition, saying: "I'm greatly surprised by this award that I consider undeserved. I'm not more than a musician that enjoys what he does and a Colombian that dreams and fights for peace in his country."

Over the course of three albums Juanes has become the top-selling Latin Rock artist in the world and has received numerous awards and honors including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, 9 MTV Awards, 8 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, 7 BMI Awards for songwriting (including "Songwriter of the Year" and recognition from Time Magazine as "One of the 100 Most Influential People In the World."

Juanes is currently wrapping up a 21-city European tour in support of his Mi Sangre album.