Golden Hen: Audience Award Goes to Unheilig Singer The Graf

The Graf appeared visibly overwhelmed when he accepted the audience award at the 2026 Golden Hen ceremony. “I am truly overwhelmed,” the Unheilig singer said in his acceptance speech. He received the media prize in the music category, one year after making his emotional stage comeback at the gala.

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I am truly overwhelmed.

The live ceremony at the Leipzig Trade Fair presented 11 awards to stars from music, film, entertainment and sport, along with honors for everyday heroes. Esther Sedlaczek and Florian Silbereisen hosted the event. The Golden Hen is organized by MDR and SuperIllu, in cooperation with NDR, BR and rbb.

Other audience awards went to comedian and podcaster Felix Lobrecht, world pair-skating champions Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin, and entertainer Hape Kerkeling. Honorary awards went to singer Helene Fischer, British boy band Take That, the television series Babylon Berlin and Majeed Yarim, who acted as a first responder at the scene after the mass-casualty vehicle attack in Leipzig in May.

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As an aside, I have already received lifetime achievement awards several times. Always too early.

Armin Mueller-Stahl received the Golden Hen for lifetime achievement and accepted it personally. The 95-year-old is among the few artists who achieved success both in East Germany and in West Germany. He later also appeared in highly acclaimed Hollywood films. “As an aside, I have already received lifetime achievement awards several times. Always too early,” Mueller-Stahl said while accepting the prize. The ceremony came close to his 96th birthday, and he said he was glad he was still here. “And I am staying here for now,” the actor added.

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And I am staying here for now.