Annie Lennox Awareded OBE by Queen Elizabeth

Singer Annie Lennox, guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson and the Buggles' Trevor Horn have all received one of the top honors of their country, according to MSNBC.

The three were all named to Queen Elizabeth's 2011 New Years Honour's List, the Queen's annual recognition of hundreds of country members who have found significant success pursuing any number of professions, interests and charitable works.

Lennox, who founded the Eurythmics in 1980 and later launched a solo career, became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (aka an OBE) not for her music but for her community outreach, primarily working with the anti-poverty group Oxfam on AIDS initiatives in Africa.

Lennox said on her website shortly after the awards were announced that she was "genuinely honored," despite the fact that "I was never much of one to win prizes."

"I take this as more of an appreciation for the gentle turning of the years for someone who's enormously grateful for being able to breathe more or less freely in a totally insane world," Lennox said.

Horn, who along with Thompson was recognized for a lifelong body of musical work, told the Arbroath Herald that he was "amazed" by the award, and when he received the notification by mail he figured it was a tax notice. "It's not something you ever think about in my line of work because it so enjoyable anyway -- you don't look for any other rewards," he said.

The award ceremony, where each honoree typically meets Queen Elizabeth and participates in a range of festivities, will take place later this year.

Watch Annie Lennox's 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' Video