French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand pinned the red-ribboned medal on Minnelli's lapel in an emotional ceremony in a gilded hall Monday.
Minnelli called the distinction "a dream come true" and said she was "honored to be a part of France, a part of Paris."
A visibly moved Minnelli told spectators at the ceremony: "Thank you for watching me, thank you for caring about me."
The daughter of Hollywood star Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, the entertainer won an Oscar for her role in the hit 1972 film "Cabaret." She's also the recipient of an Emmy and several Golden Globe and Tony Awards.
