11 Stars Who Turned Down a Spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 2013, Kim Kardashian (and Kanye West, on her behalf) made a very public plea for a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. The committee ultimately rejected her—"We don't have reality stars on the Walk of Fame," they explained to Yahoo—but the whole debacle brought to light just how competitive scoring a spot on the Walk of Fame can be. Despite this, there are some celebrities who have been offered stars and turned down the opportunity for one reason or another. Here are some of the biggest names who have said no to a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

There's a reason Prince can't be found on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—and it's not because he isn't worthy. Walk of Fame ceremonies producer Ana Martinez explained in an interview with The Wrap that the late "Purple Rain" singer turned down the opportunity to receive a star not once, but twice.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

"He was on my wish list," Martinez said. "But he felt that it wasn't the right time."

Once upon a time, Bruce Springsteen was offered a spot on the Walk of Fame. But when he never showed up to claim that star in a public ceremony, he ultimately forfeited his spot—and he even caused the Walk of Fame committee to put new rules in place preventing future no-show incidents.

"We call it the 'Springsteen policy,'" Martinez joked with Today. That policy states that nominees must promise to attend their ceremonies before they are even considered for a star.

In 1990, Madonna had reached new heights in her career. The year prior, "Like A Prayer" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and her songs "Express Yourself" and "Cherish" both made it all the way to No. 2.

It makes sense then that during that year, the Walk of Fame committee approached the singer about getting a star. Her response? Well, according to Madame Tussauds, Madonna just wasn't interested.

Clint Eastwood is noticeably absent from the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. However, the only person to blame for this is Eastwood himself.

Martinez told Today that Eastwood has been nominated several times for a star, though he has yet to actually claim one. Should he ever change his mind, "there's one spot left in front of the Chinese Theater if he wants it," she said.

Whitney Houston doesn't need a star on the Walk of Fame in order to be remembered—and she didn't want one, either. In an interview with The New York Times, her manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston explained that "she didn't want people walking on her name." Makes sense!

Denzel Washington has been offered a spot on the Walk of Fame before. However, Today notes that the Training Day star never set a date for his public ceremony, and so his plaque was never placed.

In 1989, televangelist and public preacher Rev. Billy Graham was awarded a star on the Walk of Fame. However, this came only after he'd rejected a spot on the sidewalk a few decades earlier.

"A star was offered to me 30 years ago, and I said 'no' then. But I've changed my views," he explained to the Los Angeles Times back when he accepted his star. "Some parents walking along there someday in the future might be asked by their child, 'Who was Billy Graham?' And they could say, 'He preached the Gospel.'"

If you're wondering how in the world George Clooney doesn't have a star on the Walk of Fame, you're not alone. "I get this question from lots of women and some men too," Martinez writes on the Walk of Fame website. "George was selected a few years back, but it seems that he has a very busy schedule," she explains. "George, if you are reading this, give us a call and we will set a date!"

Don't expect to see Al Pacino's name on the Walk of Fame any time soon. According to Today, Pacino is one of the many actors who simply never set a date for their public ceremony after being nominated for a star, and therefore lost their spot on the special sidewalk.

Technically, boxing legend Muhammad Ali does have a star on the Walk of Fame. However, that star isn't actually on the Walk of Fame, but instead is hanging up in the Dolby Theatre. That's because, as Martinez explained to USA Today, Ali "did not want the name of Muhammad to be stepped on" in accordance with his religious beliefs.

"I bear the name of our Beloved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), and it is impossible that I allow people to trample over his name," Ali said at the time.

John Denver was given a star on Walk of Fame posthumously in 2014. But according to the Guardian Liberty Voice, the "Take Me Home, Country Roads" singer was also offered a star when he was alive in 1982, and he turned it down. Evidently, his manager paid $3,000 for a nomination, only for Denver to never schedule a date for the ceremony.