BRANDY, KIRK FRANKLIN AND PHARRELL WILLIAMS RECEIVE GRAND SALUTE AT FOURTH ANNUAL RECORDING ACADEMY® HONORS PRESENTED BY THE BLACK MUSIC COLLECTIVERecording Academy

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (JAN. 30, 2026) - A star-studded evening celebrating the illustrious careers of Grammy® Award-winning legends Brandy, Kirk Franklinand Pharrell Williams took place Thursday, Jan. 29, at the fourth annual Recording Academy® Honors presented by the Black Music Collective (BMC), ahead of Music's Biggest Night®. Brandy and Franklin were each honored with the Black Music Icon Award, recognizing Black music creators whose artistry, innovation and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations around the world. Williams was presented with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, recognizing his musical achievements, as well as his entrepreneurial innovation, philanthropic efforts, and far-reaching cultural influence worldwide.

"Honoring Brandy, Kirk and Pharrell at this year's Recording Academy Honors underscored the profound influence these three trailblazing artists have had on music and culture," said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. "Their excellence, creativity and enduring impact exemplify the legacy we strive to celebrate, and seeing this event continue to grow affirms our dedication to uplifting the Black music community and recognizing its brilliance at the highest level."

A stellar lineup of Grammy winners and nominees took the stage to honor the evening's recipients: Coco Jones, FLOand Kehlanidelivered performances celebrating Brandy; Brittany Spencer, Darrel Walls, John Legend, Lecrae, PJ Morton, Tamela Mann, and Voices of Fire paid tribute to Franklin; and Williams was recognized with performances by Clipseand Leon Thomas, capped by a surprise appearance and performance from Justin Timberlake. Brandy and Franklin also delivered unforgettable performances of their own, bringing the room to its feet. Additional appearances throughout the evening included BMC Co-Chairs J. Ivyand Torae, Dr. Dreand Tyler, the Creator.

Adding to the celebration, Grammy Award-winning artist Evereceived long-awaited recognition for her work on The Roots' song "You Got Me," which won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group in 2000. Although she was featured on the record, she was inadvertently uncredited at the time. After recently becoming aware of the situation, the Academy honored Eve with a Grammy Award for her contributions to the track. The award was presented to her by Harvey Mason jr. and Torae.

Since its inception, the BMC has remained dedicated to championing and empowering Black music creators and industry leaders. Past honorees include Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, JAY-Z, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, and Sylvia Rhone. 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.

MVD Inc returned for the fourth consecutive year to produce the event, with Adam Blackstonereturning as music director. Specialty cocktails by PATRÓN Tequila were enjoyed by guests throughout the evening.

Photos from Recording Academy Honors can be found here.

ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY

The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the Grammy Museum®,advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the Grammy Awards- music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

For more information about the Grammy Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit Grammy.comand RecordingAcademy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and X. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy Press Room.

ABOUT THE BLACK MUSIC COLLECTIVE

The Black Music Collective is an advisory board of music industry leaders dedicated to advancing opportunities for Black music creators and championing increased representation across the field. Powered by the Recording Academy's DREAM Network, the Collective 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. To learn more about the Black Music Collective, visit here. For exclusive content, follow the Black Music Collective on Instagramand Facebook.

ABOUT MVD INC

MVD Inc. is an award-winning global creative and experiential agency operating at the intersection of culture, creativity, and brand storytelling. Founded by visionary sisters Miatta Johnson and Massah David, MVD is known for producing culturally defining campaigns and platforms that resonate globally and shape industries. With a proven ability to translate cultural moments into iconic, high-impact experiences, the agency has set new standards across music, film, fashion, and technology. Trusted by partners including Sony Pictures, Universal Music Group, ESSENCE, and the Recording Academy, MVD delivers work that drives results while influencing the cultural zeitgeist.

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CONTACTS
Folashade Omosheyin
Recording Academy
[email protected]