Music icons Pharrell Williams, Brandy, and Kirk Franklin will be honored at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors. The event, an official GRAMMY Week 2026 celebration, will take place on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, leading up to the 2026 GRAMMY Awards.
Key Takeaways
- Pharrell Williams will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
- Brandy and Kirk Franklin will each be honored with the Black Music Icon Award.
- The event is part of GRAMMY Week 2026, culminating in the 2026 GRAMMY Awards on February 1.
- The Recording Academy's Black Music Collective (BMC) hosts the annual event.
Celebrating Music's Visionaries
Pharrell Williams will be presented with the prestigious Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. This recognition highlights his extensive musical achievements, entrepreneurial ventures, philanthropic endeavors, and significant global cultural influence. Williams' career spans decades, marked by innovation and a profound impact across various creative fields.
Meanwhile, Brandy and Kirk Franklin are set to receive the Black Music Icon Award. This award celebrates Black music creators whose artistry, innovation, and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations worldwide. Their contributions have left an indelible mark on music and culture.
"Pharrell, Brandy and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft. Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention and shapes culture. Their artistry continues to inspire generations of artists around the world. I'm thrilled to join the Black Music Collective in honoring three of music's brightest stars in January and celebrating their immeasurable contributions to the industry," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr.
Did You Know?
Past Recording Academy Honors recipients include music legends like Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, JAY-Z, John Legend, and Mariah Carey, among others.
Pharrell Williams: A Global Innovator
Pharrell Williams is a 13-time GRAMMY Award winner and an Academy Award nominee. His influence extends beyond music into film and philanthropy. He serves as the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton and boasts over 10 billion combined global music streams to date.
In the past year, Williams produced "Let God Sort Em Out" for Clipse, which earned five GRAMMY nominations, including Album Of The Year. He also released the critically acclaimed animated biopic "PIECE BY PIECE," directed by Morgan Neville, featuring a 21-track soundtrack with five new original songs.
Beyond Music
Williams founded YELLOW in 2019, a nonprofit focused on youth education. He also launched the SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival and Humanrace, a well-being brand. His Black Ambition nonprofit supports Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, providing pathways to success.
Brandy: The Vocal Bible
Brandy, a multi-platinum and GRAMMY Award-winning artist, is recognized as one of pop music's most influential figures. She gained prominence in the 1990s with her quadruple-platinum debut album and her starring role in the sitcom "Moesha." Her performance in Disney's "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" further cemented her icon status.
Known by fans and peers as "the Vocal Bible," Brandy is celebrated for her distinctive, emotionally rich voice and a genre-defining catalog. This includes her five-time-platinum album "Never Say Never" and the GRAMMY-winning classic "The Boy Is Mine." Her 2020 album "b7" also received critical acclaim. In 2023, she released "Christmas With Brandy," showcasing her continued evolution as a vocalist.
Brandy continues to expand her creative footprint through acting, with roles in A24's "The Front Room," Disney's "Descendants: The Rise of Red," and the upcoming 2025 film "I Know What You Did Last Summer." She is also preparing to release her memoir, "PHASES."
Kirk Franklin: Redefining Gospel Music
Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY Award winner, songwriter, and producer. For over three decades, he has redefined contemporary gospel music through an innovative blend of gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and pop. His critically acclaimed 2023 album "Father's Day" featured the No. 1 single "All Things," which earned him his 20th GRAMMY Award.
Franklin recently received the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards, acknowledging his enduring influence across music and entertainment. He also debuted his original series "Den of Kings," which garnered over one million views in its first week.
His collaborations span various genres, including work with artists such as Chance the Rapper, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, and Mariah Carey. Beyond music, Franklin has expanded into television, film, and his SiriusXM channel, Kirk Franklin's Praise. He actively mentors emerging talent through initiatives like Camp Lotus and supports organizations such as Compassion International and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The Black Music Collective's Mission
The Recording Academy's Black Music Collective (BMC) is an advisory board comprising music industry leaders. Its mission is to advance opportunities in Black music and champion increased representation across the field. Since its inception, the BMC has focused on empowering Black music creators and industry leaders.
Powered by the Recording Academy's DREAM Network, the BMC serves as a central hub for creators and business leaders across all genres. It unites visionary voices to set unified goals, foster community, and drive meaningful change within the industry. Last year, the BMC awarded $85,000 in scholarship grants to Black college students and HBCU music programs, supporting the next generation of Black leaders in music.
GRAMMY Week 2026 Details
GRAMMY Week is the Recording Academy's weeklong celebration of the music community, leading up to the annual GRAMMY Awards. GRAMMY Week 2026 will culminate with the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, live on Sunday, February 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The 2026 GRAMMYs will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ from 5-8:30 p.m. PT / 8-11:30 p.m. ET. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have live streaming access, while Essential subscribers can watch on-demand the day after the broadcast. An immersive experience, including behind-the-scenes content and exclusive videos, will be available on live.GRAMMY.com.
Pre-Show and Red Carpet Events
Before the main telecast, the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. This ceremony, streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel, is where the majority of GRAMMY Awards are presented.
Fans can also tune into "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet" for exclusive interviews and first-look fashion moments from nominees and artists. The airtime for the red carpet special will be announced closer to the event.
New GRAMMY Categories and Updates
The 2026 GRAMMYs will introduce several updates designed to strengthen the awards process and broaden representation. Two new GRAMMY Categories have been added: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. These changes reflect the Recording Academy's commitment to evolving with the music landscape.
- Eligibility for Best New Artist has been expanded to include artists previously nominated in Album Of The Year whose contributions fell below the 20 percent playing time threshold.
- The existing Best Country Album Category is now Best Contemporary Country Album, complementing the new Best Traditional Country Album.
- Composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for GRAMMY recognition in Classical Categories.
- The Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Categories have been combined into a single category.
- Physical product eligibility for several categories has been expanded to include albums sold directly to fans through artist or label websites.
Adam Blackstone will return as music supervisor for the Recording Academy Honors evening, ensuring a memorable celebration of these influential artists.