Mariah Honored for her Acting

The 21st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival announced Monday that it will present Mariah Carey with the Breakthrough Performance Award for her role in Lee Daniels's Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire.

"We're delighted to be able to present the Breakthrough Performance Award to the extraordinary, very beautiful and versatile Mariah Carey, who, in a critically acclaimed role, completely transformed herself from a glamorous music icon to a forthright social worker for the role of Ms. Weiss in Precious," said the festival's chairman, Harold Matzner, in a press release.

Past recipients of the Breakthrough Performance Award include Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Hudson, Felicity Huffman, and Freida Pinto.

Carey will join previously announced honorees Morgan Freeman and Anna Kendrick at the awards ceremony January 5.