Paul McCartney is set to receive NME’s special Songwriter’s Songwriter award later in February. It is expected that the former Beatle will be on hand to accept his award in person. McCartney, whose hit single Queenie has put him back on the music charts at the age of 71, is seen performing the track in the music video above.

The Beatles’ co-frontman–he held the stage alongside the late John Lennon–launched the 5th decade of his music career with the release of his new album New in 2013. Now he is being honored for his own songwriting. He and John Lennon co-wrote hundreds of songs during their time together.

The 2014 NME Awards will take place on February 26 at Brixton’s O2 Academy, where Paul McCartney will accept the coveted gong after being chosen by the world’s leading songwriters who voted him the “best practitioner of their craft.” Is there possibly anyone who could top Paul McCartney?

NME’s editor Mike Williams said the following about McCartney.

“We’ve spoken to the biggest and best musicians around, and they’ve told us: Paul McCartney is the world’s ultimate songwriter. Paul’s enduring and stunning talent is worth celebrating, and I’m incredibly honoured that NME are giving him the special, one-of-its-kind Songwriter’s Songwriter award to recognise that,” he said. “I’m equally thrilled for us to be singling out Belle & Sebastian at this year’s ceremony, an act who have always had a special place in our readers’ hearts and minds. And of course, to have Huw Stephens – a man who’s probably the most respected young DJ around, as well as a friend to practically every band in the room – presenting on the night is a dream come true too.”

Belle & Sebastian are a Glasgow based band who will receive the Teenage Cancer Trust Oustanding Contribution to Music Award at the NME Awards.

Who would have thought when they saw Paul McCartney take the stage on The Ed Sullivan Show back in 1964 that the fresh faced mop top boy beside John Lennon would still be making music–and being honored for his craft–in his 70s? He is certainly well deserving of the accolades.

Image via Wikimedia Commons