In the AAPI acronym, "AA" and "PI" are presented in parallel for a reason; it’s paramount to elevate those of Pacific Islander descent just as much as Asian American heritage. Yet, there’s sometimes been an imbalance — and an attendant fight to rebalance those scales.

Consisting of three ethnogeographic groupings — Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia — the Pacific Island region covers more than 300,000 square miles of land; as such, those two letters encompass a staggering array of cultures and peoples, from Hawaii and American Samoa to New Guinea and New Zealand.

Accordingly, the wellspring of musics that pours from these islands couldn’t be contained in one article — or a dozen. But a quick look at musicians of Pacific Islander descent currently getting their moment can act as a window into these worlds. 

Some, like Iam Tongi, are operating on a nationally broadcast stage. Others work in quieter, more localized spaces. What they share is profound connections to the Pacific Islands, which are founts of musical brilliance.

Read on for five of them, from vastly divergent genres and traditions.

Iam Tongi

Simon and Garfunkel’s "The Sound of Silence" has resonated far, far past the 1960s; its unflinching gaze into the void is for our time as much as any other. 

In 2016, Disturbed brought it back to television; Hawaiian high school senior Iam Tongi recently did the same thing — on "American Idol." In the process, he even made judge Katy Perry cry.

Tongi is a man who has known darkness well: he had lost his father, Rodney, a few years earlier to kidney disease. The cataclysm has informed his choices of tunes, like James Blunt’s father-son ballad "Monsters" and debut single "I’ll Be Seeing You."

Clearly, Tongi’s emotionally incisive pipes and gripping story have gone a long way: on May 21, he beat out finalists Megan Danielle and Colin Stough, and became the next American Idol — the youngest male winner in the show’s history.

Taimane Gardner

If you didn’t know ukulele virtuosity is a thing, get on board. Taimane Gardner is not just in her own league on the instrument; she’s a captivating performer as well. And on top of that, she’s a masterful songwriter and interpreter. Ukulele, meet your triple threat.

Gardner was born in Honolulu and is of Samoan descent; in the Samoan language, her name translates to "diamond." Indeed, she’s a rare gem, as she can deftly move from Bach to rock to flamenco and back again, all while weaving in impressive original compositions.

In 2022, Gardner released HAWAIKI, an album steeped in her Polynesian heritage — with the loss of her mother in 2018 weighing heavily in the material. 

Therein, the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery "as she goes through Hawaiki, this special island where the gods and goddesses live," Gardner has described. "it's a spiritual place where Polynesians come from and go after they pass."

HAWAIKI may specifically point its arrow at Polynesia, but if there’s one takeaway from Gardner’s artistry, it’s that Pacific Islander music readily perforates boundaries and boxes.

Try The Pie

Further representing Polynesia is the Bay Area downer-punk band Try The Pie, led by Tonga-American vocalist and guitarist Bean Tupou — who also happens to be queer and nonbinary. 

Not only do they kick up an enticing duststorm musically; their psychologically freighted yet economical lyrics truly connect.

"We are not built like walls To hold up structures, to be the glue," Tupou sings in "Every Week," the opening track on their 2015 album Domestication. "I wanna do it all/ I wanna let go and remember you."

Rounded out by guitarist Laine Barriga, bassist Bailey Lupo and drummer Nick Lopez, Try The Pie most recently released A Widening Burst of Forever; on tunes like "Shell," "New Dust" and "3 Swords," their sound and aesthetic bloom like time-lapse flowers. So does the influence of Tupou’s heritage. 

"As a child, I would often wake in the mornings to my father playing guitar and singing Westlian style hymns in Tongan — a ritual I’ve come to miss dearly," Tupou said this year. "As a part of our family’s legacy, I have chosen to write songs and archive my own experience through music."

Kala’e Parish

Native Hawaiian country music? Consider your horizons expanded. Just as American country music celebrates the contiguous U.S.’s working-class South and heartland, Native Hawaiian music is all about island pride. And Kala’e Parish is right at the vanguard of this form.

Parish didn’t start writing his own music, however, until he attended college in Oregon, pursuing a degree in Business Marketing. Upon moving back to Hawaii, his star rose by way of his band Eden Roc.

In 2016, he struck out solo to clamorous applause; his 2020 EP Where I Reside was nominated for EP Of The Year at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, and he was featured on Kuha’o Maunakea, a compendium of tunes by Hawaii’s top performers.

Parish is still firing on all cylinders, while residing in Waimea. And considering the vitality of tunes like "These Islands," this terrific singer/songwriter has a lot more to say about the islands he hails from. 

"Crystal clear blue waters with a never-ending flow," he sings. "Here we go."

P-Lo

Despite being born and raised in a Filipino American household in the Bay Area, rapper and producer Paolo Rodriguez — better known as P-Lo — successfully transcends the confines of identity in his music.

"I never wanted to take that route and use that Asian thing as a crutch," Rodriguez, who's Filipino, once stated. "People are already going to identify with me 'cause I look like them. I never wanted to use that as a crutch to get where I wanted to be."

Disposing of that "crutch" hasn’t stymied P-Lo one iota. He’s worked with everyone from Wiz Khalifa to Iggy Azalea to Flo Rida; His songs have been featured in visual media from Space Jam: A New Legacy to "Insecure." the tour around his new album, Stunna, takes him across the U.S. until the end of June.

"Always adapt while bringing your own flavor," P-Lo has said, a sentiment which applies to everyone on this list, and emerging AAPI musicians of every stripe. They know and honor their roots. But their roots are just the beginning of the story.

Commonalities, Subtleties & Purpose: 7 Musicians Pushing Ancient Asian Instruments Into The Future

Last month, GRAMMY U fostered the intersection between current and future leaders of the global music industry with the launch of the 2025–2026 GRAMMY U Mentorship Program. Presented by Amazon Music, the program is cultivating the careers of over a thousand rising music industry professionals. The program evolved this year to include additional benefits like structured phases and curated supplemental virtual programming with guest lecturers. The program also welcomed its largest number of pairings since its inception, counting nearly 1,200 Mentor-Mentee pairs representing all 12 Recording Academy Chapters and GRAMMY U members from nearly 20 countries, including Australia, Brazil, and South Korea.

The GRAMMY U Mentorship Program matches eligible GRAMMY U members with Recording Academy Voting and Professional Members for a six-month period based on the GRAMMY U members’ career interests and pursuits. The pairs meet to create actionable professional goals and focus on quality discussions around career growth, networking and industry knowledge. While pairs are only required to meet three times throughout the program period, many choose to connect more frequently, often forming relationships that continue well beyond the program’s official end, with some even landing their first industry job through the program.

Learn more about the renovated 2025–2026 GRAMMY U Mentorship Program and its benefits below.

Amazon Music Teams Up With GRAMMY U

Amazon Music has served as a long-time supporter of GRAMMY U with a strong presence at national programs like the 2024 GRAMMY U Conference featuring keynote speaker Ben Platt. Over the last couple of years, Amazon Music has also provided GRAMMY U members with special mentorship experiences, including educational office tours in their Seattle headquarters and one-on-one mentorship pairings. This year, Amazon Music continues its dedication to GRAMMY U and mentorship as an official presenting sponsor of GRAMMY U’s Mentorship Program.

With this new partnership, the program can expand its access to additional resources, such as new educational panels and site tours. Amazon Music executives can also serve as guest speakers on virtual programs throughout the program period. Amazon Music will also continue its participation in select GRAMMY U national programs throughout the year through its ever-popular curated networking mixer, which brings industry professionals and GRAMMY U members together.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GRAMMY U (@grammyu)

The Largest Cohort in Program History

This Mentorship Program period welcomes the largest number of participants in the program's history, counting nearly 1,200 pairs globally, almost double the number of pairings just two cycles ago. The Mentors consist of more than 1,000 Recording Academy Voting and Professional Members globally, covering major focal points of the industry across six tracks: Producing & Engineering, Performance, Songwriting & Composition, Content Creation & Marketing, Music Business, and, new this year, Entertainment Law. The mentor pool comprises a number of major music companies and organizations, including Amazon Music, Universal Music Group, NBC Universal, Spotify, Warner Chappell, and, of course, the Recording Academy.

Mentees are pursuing a combination of traditional music careers, like artist management and songwriting, as well as rising fields like freelance DJing, content creation, music tech, and tour production. With nearly 250 non-student members paired, the program underscores that a music industry career path may not be linear and access to a Mentor could significantly amplify opportunities and drive success down the road.

This year's cohort of mentees is diverse, representing 41 U.S. states and nearly 400 colleges and universities. The program continues to expand globally, with 20 international pairings from countries including Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Romania, Spain, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and more.

Romanian mentee Andreea Dascalu reflects on her return as an international participant. "It is my second time being a mentee in the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program, and I could not say enough good things about it. This time, I was lucky to be paired with the amazing Adaoha Njemanze, a PR professional based in Lagos, Nigeria, with whom I have already had my first meeting and from whom I can tell I have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to discovering new and effective means of putting your artist music and name out there in today's attention-fighting world."

Industry Legends Step Up To The Plate

This year's program brings in hundreds of industry professionals. Meka Nism, a returning Mentor and GRAMMY-nominated artist, is paired with University of Miami's Frost School of Music student Angelina Mack in the Recording Academy Florida Chapter, where they will focus on the artist relations industry. Michael Kauffman, a member of the Recording Academy New York Chapter and executive director of the music program at the Clio Awards, will work together with mentee Kendry Hilario to exploremarketing and content creation.

Within the Performance track, singer/songwriter Soleil has joined this year's program as a Mentor. As the track highlights all elements of music performance, she and her mentee, Santiago Bolanos, could experience performance opportunities, studio sessions, and beyond during their time together. Songwriter and composer Laurin Talese in the Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter will mentor Drexel University music industry student Alanna Bell within the Songwriters & Composers track, another track focused on the artistic aspect of the industry, allowing for writing, performing and recording opportunities.

Mentors and Mentees may work together in various capacities throughout their time together. In the past, producers have brought their mentees to live recording sessions and have even produced singles together, while songwriters have co-written projects with their mentees and gone on to work together after the program ends. Within the Producers & Engineers track, returning Mentor and producer, songwriter, arranger, and music executive Kennard Garrett notes, "I have been a Mentor in the past, and the experience was great. I was able to pour into a young producer and serve as a sounding board for their ideas about their future career. Conversely, I was able to learn so much from my mentee, and the experience was equally beneficial and fulfilling."

The Mentorship Program also covers newer and high-demand niche fields quickly growing in today's music industry. Mentor Naledi Nyahuma, vice president of diversity, equity & inclusion at The Orchard, reflects on the impact of the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program within today's competitive music industry. "The music industry may be big, but it's a small community at heart. With so many diverse voices and overlapping paths, it can be tough to navigate alone. Mentorship offers essential support, and within an organization like the Academy, it helps creatives develop both artistically and professionally."

A Three-Phase Structure For Guided Growth

One of the most notable changes to this year's program is the implementation of a three-phase system. While the previous program structure provided meeting guidelines and check-in points, this updated structure offers benchmarks, much like a guided course. The program's expanded structure now further supports mentorship pairs, encouraging intentional progression throughout the program period.

The three-phase system comprises: Connect, which starts with relationship building and sets goals and expectations for the pair; Cultivate, which guides the pairs through collaborative meetings; and Conquer, which encourages discussions regarding career growth and enhancement as their final phase.

In the Connect phase, pairs focus on setting up their first meetings and setting goals for the program. They discuss expectations, share background stories, and together establish a goal that the mentee wants to achieve by the end of the program.

In February, pairs continue onto the second phase, Cultivate, through March. This phase focuses on growth, skill-building, and professional direction. Conversations and meetings will likely include elements of expanding industry knowledge, building confidence, adjusting artistic or professional materials, and gaining experience through mock interviews or shadowing. Pairs may also collaborate on creative sessions, recordings, co-writes, performance opportunities, résumé or portfolio building, networking, and more.

The final phase, Conquer, will run through the end of the program in May and, hopefully, beyond. Pairs use their last meetings to fine-tune résumés, discuss job or internship postings, evaluate the mentee's professional presence, and address next steps beyond the program. Many pairs also discuss how they can maintain contact with one another, building professional relationships that last beyond the program's official end date.

Enhanced Virtual Programming & Academic-Style Learning

In addition to implementing the new three-phase structure, the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program has a new virtual curriculum for mentees that reflects the experience of an academic environment. Last year's virtual "Meet the Mentors" series was the first iteration of the program's supplemental program offerings. This year, the enhanced curriculum structure features virtual programs that highlight industry-relevant skills through Core Curriculum courses and guest lectures from industry professionals across the six tracks. These additional virtual programs are designed to create meaningful ways to expand mentees' knowledge and provide additional touchpoints throughout the six-month program.

The new core curriculum, taught by Recording Academy staff, will cover foundational topics important to emerging music industry professionals, such as social media, communications and publicity, advocacy, partnerships, and entertainment law. Each session is intended to give mentees practical tools they can apply daily, regardless of their desired industry journey.

Guest lectures feature top industry creators and professionals from every mentorship track. All participating mentees also have the opportunity to learn from other tracks and professionals in the industry beyond their assigned Mentor. Mentees can learn about new professional pathways to different career types and emerging trends in their profession.

This year's program offers a comprehensive experience for every GRAMMY U participant, from Amazon Music office tours to virtual programs. While applications are closed for the current 2025-2026 cycle, the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program runs annually from November through May. Applications for the 2026–2027 GRAMMY U Mentorship Program open in fall 2026. Prospective participants must be active GRAMMY U members to apply as Mentees. Industry professionals must be active Voting or Professional Members of the Recording Academy to apply as Mentors.

Interested participants can stay connected through GRAMMY U's Instagram and TikTok channels, where updates, stories, and announcements from this year's program will be shared regularly.

The 2026 Grammys take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. Watch highlights and exclusive GRAMMYS content from the 2026 Grammys all year long on live.grammy.com.

The Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards Ceremony celebrating the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical Grammy Award recipients will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, during Grammy Week 2026, on the night before the 2026 Grammys. Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, and Whitney Houston are the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honorees; Bernie Taupin, Eddie Palmieri and Sylvia Rhone are the Trustees Award honorees; and John Chowning is the Technical Grammy Award honoree. The official Grammy Week event will celebrate the honorees' outstanding contributions to the recording field.

"It's a true honor to recognize this year's Special Merit Award recipients — an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres and the very foundation of modern music," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Each of these honorees has made a profound and lasting impact, and we look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements on the eve of Grammy Sunday."

Grammy Week is the Recording Academy's weeklong celebration comprising official Grammy Week events celebrating the music community and current Grammy nominees in the lead-up to the annual Grammy Awards. Grammy Week 2026 culminates with the 2026 Grammys, which take place live Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 2026 Grammys will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ at 5-8:30 p.m. PT/8-11:30 p.m. ET. Hours ahead of the live telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about the 2026 Special Merit Awards honorees below.

Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees: This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers+ who, during their lifetime, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. See past recipients here. (+through 1972, recipients included non-performers).

• For over five decades, Carlos Santana has been a pioneering force in music, fusing Afro-Latin, blues, rock, and jazz into a sound that transcends genre, culture and generation. A 10-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy winner, he made history with Supernatural in 1999, earning eight Grammys in a single night. He is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a Kennedy Center Honoree, and a recipient of Billboard's Century and Latin Music Lifetime Achievement Awards. Rolling Stone ranks him No. 11 on its "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. Santana recently marked the 50th anniversaries of his groundbreaking album Abraxas and his iconic Woodstock performance, as well as 25 years of Supernatural. His latest album Sentient features collaborations with Cindy Blackman Santana, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, and more. The feature documentary CARLOS, produced by Sony Music Entertainment and Imagine Documentaries, premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming globally. His Las Vegas residency at House of Blues, now in its 14th year, continues to thrill audiences. His newest release, Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender (Insight Editions, 2025), is a visual journey through five decades of artistry.

• Chaka Khan is one of the most transformative vocal artists of the last five decades, a 10-time Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (2023) and a creative innovator whose influence reaches across pop, R&B, jazz, rock, country, gospel, dance, classical, indie, and beyond.  She has collaborated with more artists, across more genres, than any other singer in history, with admirers and creative partners ranging from Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Prince, Sia, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston. The Chaka Khan Foundation champions wellness, emotional resilience and creative empowerment bringing meditation, music and healing practices to women, youth and system-impacted communities worldwide. What began as a local organization has grown into a global movement for hope, dignity and transformation. She is a trailblazer, storyteller and the voice of power and freedom for many generations. Her live performances are nothing short of electrifying. Chaka Khan remains a living force in music – an artist whose work and life continue to inspire, elevate and redefine what is possible.

• For nearly 50 years, Cher has remained one of the world's most enduring entertainers, with a career spanning music, film and television. The only artist with No. 1 hits in six consecutive decades, she is an Academy Award, Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner whose influence has shaped pop culture and fashion worldwide. Rising to fame with the groundbreaking hit "I Got You Babe," she went on to achieve solo chart-toppers like "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves," "Half-Breed" and "If I Could Turn Back Time," before redefining dance-pop with the Grammy-winning "Believe," one of the best-selling singles in history. On television, she became a trailblazer with The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and The Cher Show, cementing her status as a dynamic and innovative performer. As an actress, Cher earned acclaim in films such as Silkwood, Mask and Moonstruck, the latter earning her an Oscar for Best Actress. Her record-setting world tours and landmark Las Vegas residency have drawn millions of fans, while her documentaries, television work and humanitarian efforts continue to expand her legacy. Still evolving creatively, she remains one of the most influential performers of all time.

• Fela Kuti^ was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw, and the father of Afrobeat. In the 1960s, he created the genre by combining funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and a blend of traditional Nigerian rhythms. A titanic sociopolitical voice, Afrobeat's revolutionary politics brought Fela into violent conflict with successive Nigerian military regimes, which made many attempts to suppress him and once sent in the army to burn down his communal home, Kalakuta Republic. Fela's mother later died as a result of the raid. Fela's influence and catalog of music have been widely celebrated and explored, including the podcast series Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (the New Yorker's No. 1 Podcast of 2025), and the Tony Award-winning Broadway run of Fela! The Musical from 2008-2010. Fela's influence spans generations, inspiring artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Thom Yorke, and shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats. His legacy lives on through his family: His sons, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, lead The Positive Force and Egypt 80, respectively, while his daughter, Yeni Kuti, and son, Kunle Kuti, are the keepers of the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine. An annual celebration in his honor, Felabration, takes place in Lagos and around the world each October.

• Songwriter, recording artist, performer, and philanthropist Paul Simon has shaped the sound of modern music across seven decades with classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Sound of Silence" and his album Graceland. Widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, he has earned 16 Grammy Awards, three for Album Of The Year, and holds a rare place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a two-time inductee. His accolades also include the Kennedy Center Honors, the inaugural Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the Polar Music Prize, and the Smithsonian's Great Americans Medal. In 2023, Simon released his seven-movement masterwork Seven Psalms, earning his 36th Grammy nomination and inspiring the documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. Despite significant hearing loss during its creation, he returned to the stage with his 2025 Quiet Celebration Tour, met with widespread acclaim. A devoted humanitarian, Simon co-founded the Children's Health Fund, supports global conservation efforts and has raised millions for education, arts and public health, extending his influence far beyond music.

• Whitney Houston^, renowned worldwide as "The Voice," was a record-breaking vocalist whose unparalleled talent and more than 220 million records sold made her one of the most celebrated artists in music history. Born into a dynasty of legendary singers, she rose from performing in New York clubs to signing with Clive Davis in 1983 and releasing her groundbreaking self-titled debut album in 1985, which became the best-selling debut album by a solo artist. Houston made history with seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits and eight consecutive multi-platinum albums, achievements that cemented her status as a generational icon. Her acting debut in The Bodyguard (1992) led to one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time and to her defining recording "I Will Always Love You," the biggest-selling single ever by a female artist. The six-time Grammy winner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 and became the first Black artist with three RIAA Diamond-certified albums. Today, the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation advances her lifelong commitment to uplifting youth, ensuring that her voice, spirit and influence resonate for generations to follow.

Trustees Award Honorees: This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance+, to the field of recording. See past recipients here (+through 1983, recipients included performers).

• Bernie Taupin is a celebrated lyricist, author and visual artist whose words have shaped some of the most enduring songs in modern music. Best known for his legendary partnership with Elton John, Taupin helped create more than 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, over 30 consecutive U.S. Top 40 hits and one of the best-selling singles of all time, "Candle in the Wind 1997." His achievements have earned him the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, a dozen Ivor Novello Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a Commander of the British Empire honor. A best-selling memoirist and a prolific collaborator, Taupin continues to write across genres, most recently contributing to the Grammy-nominated album Who Believes in Angels? and earning an additional Academy Award nomination for "Never Too Late." Beyond music, he is an acclaimed visual artist whose abstract and mixed-media works have been exhibited in prominent galleries and major art fairs worldwide.

• Eddie Palmieri^ was a visionary pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader whose own personal signature took Afro-Caribbean music to new horizons for over seven decades. Born in 1936 in Spanish Harlem to Puerto Rican parents, he began playing piano in childhood and launched his professional career in the 1950s. In 1961, he founded La Perfecta, replacing trumpets with trombones to forge a bold new sound that helped define modern salsa. His landmark 1965 recording Azúcar Pa' Ti, exemplified his groundbreaking works and was inducted into the Library of Congress in 2009. In 1975, Palmieri became the first Latino ever to win the Grammy for his historic recording Sun of Latin Music, eventually earning eight Grammy Awards and two Latin Grammys. He was honored with the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the NEA Jazz Master distinction and induction into Lincoln Center's Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame. Palmieri also enriched film and multimedia. He received an honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music and remained a devoted educator at Rutgers University. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of Latin music's evolution.

• Sylvia Rhone is a pioneering music executive whose five-decade career reshaped the recording industry and forged historic pathways for women and people of color. Rising from Harlem, she became the first woman to serve as CEO of a major record label owned by a Fortune 500 company and went on to hold top executive roles across all three major music groups at four companies, including Atlantic Records, Elektra, Motown, and Epic Records, where she was named Chairwoman and CEO in 2019. Rhone expanded the labels' global reach, overseeing career-defining releases across genres — from Travis Scott, Future, En Vogue, Metallica, Björk, and Tracy Chapman to Zara Larsson and Tyla — while playing a vital role in shaping the rise of hip-hop and championing female trailblazers from MC Lyte and Missy Elliott to Nicki Minaj. Her leadership has earned her more than three dozen honors, including the Recording Academy's Global Impact Award, Billboard's Executive of the Year and the City of Hope Spirit of Life Award. Widely regarded as the most influential female executive in music history, Rhone's legacy endures through the artists she empowered, the institutions she reimagined, and the doors she opened for generations to come.

Technical Grammy Award Honorees:  This Special Merit Award is presented by vote of the Producers & Engineers Wing Advisory Council and Chapter Committees and ratification by the Recording Academy's National Trustees to individuals and/or companies/organizations/institutions who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field. See past recipients here.

• John Chowning is a transformative composer and computer-music innovator whose discovery of frequency modulation (FM) synthesis in 1967 revolutionized electronic sound. After studying with Nadia Boulanger and earning his doctorate at Stanford, he launched the university's early computer-music program and developed the first digital algorithm for surround-sound localization. Stanford's licensing of his FM patent to Yamaha led to the most successful synthesis engine in the history of electronic instruments. A co-founder of Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) in 1974, Chowning helped establish one of the world's leading hubs for computer-music research. Even after retiring in 1996, he continued a teenage interest in exploring reverberant caves. He initiated and assembled experts from relevant disciplines to explore ancient acoustic environments, projects to reconstruct the sound worlds of Peru's Chavín de Huántar, China's Longyou Grotto, and France's prehistoric Chauvet Cave. His honors include election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the French Ordre des Arts et Lettres, multiple honorary doctorates, and the Giga-Hertz Award.

^Denotes posthumous honoree.

The 2026 Grammys take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. Watch highlights and exclusive GRAMMYS content from the 2026 Grammys all year long on live.grammy.com.

The Recording Academy's Black Music Collective (BMC) will host the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors, celebrating the illustrious careers of music legends Pharrell Williams, Brandy, and Kirk Franklin. Taking place Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, the event, an official Grammy Week 2026 event, leads up to the 2026 Grammys.

Williams will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, recognizing his musical achievements, entrepreneurial innovation, philanthropic efforts, and global cultural influence. Both Brandy and Franklin will each receive the Black Music Icon Award, recognizing Black music creators whose artistry, innovation and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations around the world. Adam Blackstone will return as music supervisor for the evening.

"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," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said.

Past Recording Academy Honors honorees include Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, JAY-Z, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Sylvia Rhone.

Grammy Week is the Recording Academy's weeklong celebration comprising official Grammy Week events celebrating the music community and current Grammy nominees in the lead-up to the annual Grammy Awards. Grammy Week 2026 culminates with the 2026 Grammys, which take place live Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 2026 Grammys will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+ at 5-8:30 p.m. PT/8-11:30 p.m. ET. Hours ahead of the live telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

Learn more about Pharrell Williams below:

Williams is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated musician, filmmaker, philanthropist, and the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton, with over 10 billion combined global music streams to date.  This year, Williams produced Let God Sort Em Out, the highly anticipated return from Clipse, which earned five GRAMMY nominations, including Album Of The Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Album, and Best Music Video. In 2024, Pharrell released his critically acclaimed animated biopic PIECE BY PIECE, directed by Morgan Neville in partnership with Focus Features and LEGO. The film features a 21-track soundtrack, including five new original songs written and performed by Williams alongside 16 catalog tracks from his career. Its titular single earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Best Film Music, bringing his career total to 43 GRAMMY nominations. Beyond music and film, Williams founded YELLOW in 2019, a nonprofit committed to evening the odds for youth through education. That same year, he launched the first SOMETHING IN THE WATER festival. In 2020, he debuted Humanrace, a brand dedicated to empowering individuals in their pursuit of well-being. Williams also launched Black Ambition, a nonprofit providing pathways to success for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Learn more about Brandy below:

Multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and actress Brandy is one of the most influential artists in pop music history. She first rose to fame in the '90s with her quadruple-platinum self-titled debut album, her starring role in the hit sitcom Moesha and her iconic performance in Disney's television adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Revered by peers and fans as "the Vocal Bible," Brandy is celebrated for her unparalleled, emotionally rich voice and genre-defining catalog – from her five-time-platinum album Never Say Never and its GRAMMY-winning classic "The Boy Is Mine" to her acclaimed 2020 album b7. In 2023, she released Christmas With Brandy, a holiday album highlighting her continued evolution as a vocalist and storyteller. She continues to expand her creative imprint through acting, with roles in A24's The Front Room, Disney's Descendants: The Rise of Red and the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer. She is currently preparing to release her memoir PHASES, described as the result of countless hours of reflection, work and healing.

Learn more about Kirk Franklin below:

Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist, songwriter and producer whose innovative fusion of gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and pop has redefined contemporary gospel music for more than three decades. His critically acclaimed 2023 album Father's Day featured the No. 1 single "All Things," earning him his 20th GRAMMY Award, followed by the uplifting 2025 release "Do It Again." Franklin recently received the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards for his enduring influence across music and entertainment, and debuted his original series Den of Kings, which drew over one million views in its first week. His influence spans generations and genres, highlighted by collaborations with artists such as Chance the Rapper, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, and Mariah Carey. Beyond music, he continues to broaden his creative footprint through television and film, as well as his SiriusXM channel, Kirk Franklin's Praise. A committed mentor and advocate, he supports emerging talent through initiatives like Camp Lotus and champions organizations such as Compassion International and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He remains committed to inspiring people worldwide with a message rooted in faith, love and resilience.

Franklin was initially set to be honored during the 2025 event prior to the Recording Academy's decision to condense GRAMMY Week programming to prioritize Los Angeles wildfire response. See here for Franklin's initial announcement as the Black Music Icon Award honoree.

Learn more about the Black Music Collective below:

The Black Music Collective (BMC) is an advisory board of music industry leaders dedicated to advancing opportunities in Black music and championing increased representation across the field. Since its inception, the BMC has remained dedicated to championing and 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, uniting visionary voices to set unified goals, foster community and drive meaningful change within the industry. In further support of its mission to cultivate the next generation of Black leaders in music, the BMC awarded $85,000 in scholarship grants last year to Black college students and HBCU music programs.Learn more about the Black Music Collective and follow the BMC on Instagram and Facebook for more news and updates.

Learn more about the Black Music Collective and the Recording Academy's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, recent DEI achievements, and year-round work to support artists, creators and music professionals of all backgrounds.

Award-winning global creative and experiential agency MVD Inc. returns to produce Recording Academy Honors for the fourth consecutive year. Guests will enjoy specialty cocktails by PATRÓN Tequila throughout the star-studded celebration.

The 2026 Grammys take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. Watch highlights and exclusive GRAMMYS content from the 2026 Grammys all year long on live.grammy.com.

The 2026 GRAMMYS are returning to Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, and will deliver another standout night celebrating the year's best in music. With GRAMMY season already in full swing, the Recording Academy, the organization behind the annual GRAMMY Awards, is preparing for another historic night that will see dynamic performances, new GRAMMY Categories, and can't-miss GRAMMY moments.

Ahead of Music's Biggest Night, here's everything you need to know about how, where, and when to watch the 2026 GRAMMYS, including key viewing and streaming details.

When Are The 2026 GRAMMYS?

Taking place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the 2026 GRAMMYS will air live on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT.

How Can I Watch The 2026 GRAMMYS?

The 2026 GRAMMYS will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+.

Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

For an immersive GRAMMYs experience, visit live.GRAMMY.com. Offering a digital backstage pass to the 2026 GRAMMYS, the site provides music fans with behind-the-scenes, multi-camera access to Music's Biggest Night, including:

• Exclusive videos, including full GRAMMY performances, acceptance speeches, and backstage interviews

• Live coverage of the GRAMMY Awards in real-time

• The "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet" online special

• The full GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony livestream

• Backstage moments, red carpet highlights, GRAMMY fashion moments, and other special content

Who Are The Performers At The 2026 GRAMMYS?

The performers for the 2026 GRAMMYS have not yet been announced.

Who Is Nominated At The 2026 GRAMMYS?

The nominees for the 2026 GRAMMYS were announced on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Read the full list of 2026 GRAMMY nominations.

Who Is Hosting The 2026 GRAMMYS?

The host for the 2026 GRAMMYS will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more.

Notable figures such as Trevor Noah, James Corden, Alicia Keys, Andy Williams, and many others have hosted the GRAMMYS over the years.

When Is The 2026 GRAMMYS Premiere Ceremony?

Prior to the telecast, the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy's YouTube channel.

Taking place hours before the 2026 GRAMMYS telecast, the Premiere Ceremony is where the majority of the GRAMMY Awards are awarded. With an opening number, dynamic performances, and renowned presenters still to be announced, the 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony delivers the full GRAMMYS experience before the telecast begins.

How Can I Watch 2026 GRAMMYS Red Carpet Interviews?

Get ready for Music's Biggest Night by tuning in to "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet," our live red carpet special featuring exclusive interviews and standout fashion moments on the 2026 GRAMMYS red carpet.

Featuring exclusive interviews and first-look fashion moments from 2026 GRAMMY nominees and your favorite artists, "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet" will air live on Sunday, Feb. 1, ahead of the 2026 GRAMMYS telecast. The airtime will be announced at a later date. The "GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet" special will be available to watch in full and on-demand online shortly after.

What's New At The 2026 GRAMMYS?

The 2026 GRAMMYS will introduce several updates designed to strengthen the annual GRAMMY Awards process and broaden representation across the music community, including the addition of two new GRAMMY Categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover.

These expansive, game-changing updates — proposed and submitted by Recording Academy members, approved by the Academy's Award & Nominations Committee, and ultimately ratified by our Board of Trustees — reflect the Recording Academy's ongoing commitment to evolving with the ever-changing musical landscape.

"Each year during our Awards & Nominations review, our focus is on refining our rules, uncovering anything that is no longer working, and ensuring we are celebrating our creative community in the most meaningful way," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. told GRAMMY.com in an exclusive interview. "I'm thrilled that many of this year's changes, including new Category additions and expanded recognition of more crafts … allow us to honor even more creators. That's always a positive outcome for me. But even more importantly, these are much-needed updates that ensure those who are making significant contributions to the musical process are properly recognized and have the opportunity to be celebrated on Music's Biggest Night."

See the full list of updates set to debut at the 2026 GRAMMYs below.

GRAMMY Award Field & Category Updates

General Field

Eligibility for Best New Artist has been expanded to include artists who have been previously nominated in Album Of The Year, but whose contributions fell below the current 20 percent playing time threshold. This update allows acts who were credited as featured artists on projects that were GRAMMY nominated for Album Of The Year in a previous awards cycle to be eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

Country Field

The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a new Category, Best Traditional Country Album, has been added.

Classical Field

In Classical Categories, composers and lyricists/librettists are now eligible for GRAMMY recognition alongside all other key creative personnel including artists, producers, and engineers on winning albums.

Packaging Field

The existing Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package Categories have been combined into one single Category: Best Recording Package. A new Category, Best Album Cover, has also been added.

The physical product eligibility requirement for Best Recording Package, Best Album Notes, and Best Historical Album has also been expanded to be more representative of today's marketplace. This change ensures that physical album packages sold directly to fans through an artist's or label's website are eligible for GRAMMY consideration.

Additionally, the Craft Committee serving in this field is transitioning from a regional to a national model.

Category Definition, Eligibility, & Criteria Updates

Minor updates to definitions, eligibility and criteria across multiple fields and awards have been reviewed and revised to be more expansive and inclusive. A full list of those changes can be found on page six of the rulebook.

What Are The Key Dates For The 2026 GRAMMYS?

Key dates for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards season are as follows:

2026 GRAMMYs Key Dates

Aug. 31, 2024 – Aug. 30, 2025

Product Eligibility Period

July 7, 2025 – Aug. 22, 2025

Media Company Registration Period

Media companies must apply for registration with the Recording Academy to submit recordings.

July 16, 2025 – Aug. 29, 2025

Online Entry Period

All eligible recordings must be entered prior to the close of the Online Entry Period, regardless of the public release date.

Oct. 3, 2025 – Oct. 15, 2025

First Round Voting

First Round Voting determines all the GRAMMY nominees for each GRAMMY Awards year.

Nov. 7, 2025

Nominees Announced for the 2026 GRAMMYs

Announcing the official nominees list for the 2026 GRAMMYs.

Dec. 12, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026

Final Round Voting

Determines the GRAMMY winners across all Categories revealed on GRAMMY night

Feb. 1, 2026

2026 GRAMMY Awards

Music's Biggest Night, recognizing excellence in the recording arts and sciences.

Who Votes For GRAMMY Nominees & GRAMMY Winners?

The GRAMMY Award is the only peer-recognized accolade in music and the industry's highest achievement. Recording Academy Voting Members — active creators representing more than 22 genres and 13 creative disciplines — determine the GRAMMY nominees and GRAMMY winners through a secure two-round voting process: First Round Voting, which determines all the GRAMMY nominees for each GRAMMY Category each year, and Final Round Voting, which ultimately determines the GRAMMY winners across all Categories revealed on GRAMMY night. 

The annual GRAMMY voting process is built to ensure that all eligible artists, musicians and creators are fairly evaluated based on their artistic and technical merits and will help the wider music community determine the leading music of the year, as voted on by their peers.

Learn more about the annual GRAMMY Awards process. Read our frequently asked GRAMMY questions (FAQ) section. View the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines for the 2026 GRAMMYs. Visit the GRAMMY Award Update Center for a list of real-time changes to the GRAMMY Awards process.