ARIANA GRANDE is to get honorary citizenship of Manchester under plans put forward by the city council.

The council is proposing a new system to recognize outstanding contributions to the city.

The U.S. singer is in line to be the first recipient for organizing the One Love Manchester concert in aid of victims of the bomb attack at her gig, in which 22 people died. An event to mark “selfless acts” after the blast is to be held, too.

Under the proposals for the new scheme, honorary citizenship of Manchester could be granted to those from outside Greater Manchester.

Council leader Richard Leese said many people would already consider Grande to be “an honorary Mancunian.” He said: “This seems a fitting moment to update the way we recognize those who make noteworthy contributions to the life and success of our city.

“We’ve all had cause to be incredibly proud of Manchester and the resilient and compassionate way in which the city, and all those associated with it, have responded to the terrible events of May 22 — with love and courage rather than hatred and fear.”

He said Ariana Grande had “exemplified this response.”

Some 50,000 people went to the One Love Manchester concert at Old Trafford on June 4, which raised almost 3 million pounds (US$3.84 million) for victims of the Manchester Arena attack.

Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a home-made bomb in the arena’s foyer at the end of Ariana Grande’s concert.

Manchester City Council has also announced it would hold an event later this year to recognize the “great many selfless acts and demonstrations of community spirit in the aftermath of the atrocity.” (SD-Agencies)