During an annual event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on March 24, North Philadelphia native Kevin Hart was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, write Tommy McArdle and Alexandra Rockey Fleming for People.

The Mark Twain Prize is awarded annually to “individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar” to 19th-century writer Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name, Mark Twain.

It is considered the highest honor in the comedic industry.

“You can’t buy support. You can’t fake that,” Hart said onstage as he accepted the award. “It means so much to me to see the people I’d show up for show up for me.”

Hart joins comedy greats like Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Steve Martin, and Whoopi Goldberg, among others to receive the award.

“I fell in love with something I could do for the rest of my life,” Hart said of his career. “I committed to comedy. I fell in love with something I can grab onto. All my eggs are in this basket and oh my God I’m happy with my choice.”

This year’s gala for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was filmed and will debut May 11 on Netflix.

Read more about Kevin Hart’s acceptance of the biggest prize in comedy at People.

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