Tennis icon Billie Jean King has made history as the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame under its newly created Sports Entertainment category.
At 81, King was honored during a ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard, where she reminisced about growing up in Los Angeles and being inspired by stars like Lucille Ball and Doris Day.
The Sports Entertainment category, introduced in 2023, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated lasting excellence in both athletic performance and entertainment. King joins only two others in this category so far — Michael Strahan and the late Carl Weathers.
“Sports are entertainment, and as athletes, we thrive on performing for an audience,” King said at the event. She also used the occasion to advocate for greater recognition of women on the Walk of Fame.
The ceremony featured tributes from basketball legend Magic Johnson and actor Jamie Lee Curtis. Johnson commended King for her influence beyond the tennis court, while Curtis hailed her as a powerful symbol of strength and activism.
Throughout her career, King secured 39 Grand Slam titles and was instrumental in founding both the Women’s Tennis Association and World Team Tennis. Off the court, she has worked as an executive producer for PBS’s Groundbreakers and made guest appearances on shows like Law & Order and The Odd Couple.
