The awards will celebrate winners in 23 categories, including best female singer, best male singer, best conductor, best opera company, and best chorus.

BBC: Opera magazine to hold inaugural awards in London

The former president also took a swipe at rapper Kanye West's behavior on Sunday, when he jumped onstage during the MTV Video Music Awards and took the microphone from country singer Taylor Swift during her would-be acceptance speech for the Best Female Video.

CNN: Carter again cites racism as factor in Obama's treatment