Sir Tom Jones!

New Year's Day means only one thing to aging pop superstars -- knighthood from the British Government. The Queen's New Year Honours List for 2006 was announced Saturday, and listed among this year's recipients was Thomas Jones Woodward, better known to legions of underwear-tossing female fans as Tom Jones.

The performer, who reached a peak of Sixties pop stardom with hits like "What's New Pussycat," "Delilah," and "Help Yourself," has been riding a career renaissance since the late Eighties that never seems to peter out, and the announcement is a career-topper for the Welsh heartthrob. Jones, who can officially add "Sir" to his name after the official investiture ceremony on an undetermined future date, joins such past oldies music royalty as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Sir George Martin, the Beatles' producer. Buckingham Palace traditionally announces knighthood twice a year -- once on 1 January and again on the Queen's birthday (observed 14 June).