Bette Midler has never kept her opinions to herself. And on October 16, the legendary entertainer brought that fighting spirit to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she received the 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize at the historic Cain’s Ballroom.
Presented by the Woody Guthrie Center, the annual award recognizes artists who carry forward the folk icon’s commitment to social justice, activism, and the power of music to inspire change.
Midler, whose career spans more than five decades, joined music journalist Rona Elliot for an onstage conversation about art, activism, and artists’ responsibility to speak out.
“Justice doesn’t always come from the courthouse,” Midler told the audience. “Sometimes the law is late, overdressed, and on the wrong side. Justice comes from a beat-up guitar instead.”
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The Divine Miss M revives Woody Guthrie’s protest anthem
Then came the evening’s biggest surprise. Midler performed her reimagined version of Guthrie’s 1940 protest song “All You Fascists (Bound to Lose),” bringing the audience to its feet.
Explaining why she updated Guthrie’s lyrics, Midler offered a pointed observation: “The old fights came back in new suits. They always do.”
Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter Anna Canoni praised Midler for bringing her grandfather’s music back into contemporary conversations about democracy and human rights.
The celebration also featured rising country artist Bryan Andrews, who performed original material, including “Yeehaw,” and led a sing-along of Guthrie’s beloved “This Land Is Your Land.”
A silent auction featuring Midler memorabilia, a Bob Dylan lithograph, and other collectibles helped raise funds for the Woody Guthrie Center’s exhibitions, concerts, and educational programs.
More than 80 years after Guthrie wrote his protest anthem, its message still resonates. Midler’s tribute reminds us that folk music isn’t simply American history. It remains a living, breathing form of resistance.
Learn more at woodyguthriecenter.org.
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