An unknown when she came to the United States to audition for the Met,
timing was on her side when the coloratura position became vacant due
to illness. Pons became an overnight success and is credited with
saving the Met from bankruptcy during the Depression.
Awarded the Legion of Honor in 1938 by the French.
A community in Maryland was named Lilypons in her honor. Its main
street is "Lilypons Road." A contemporary rock group also named
themselves after her.
Pictured on one of a set of four 32¢ US commemorative postage stamps in
the Legends of American Music series, issued 10 September 1997,
celebrating opera singers. Other singers honored in this issue are
Rosa Ponselle, Lawrence Tibbett, and Richard Tucker.
Her last public appearance was at a Promenade concert, of the New York
Philharmonic, with famed ex-husband Andre Kostelanetz conducting, in
May of 1972.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7006 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.