The Recording Academy has announced that Grammy-winning singer and actress Brandy will be honored with the Black Music Icon Award, one of the institution’s highest distinctions, in recognition of her more than three decades of influence across music, film, and television.
The award will be presented just days before the 2026 Grammy Awards at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors, organized by the Academy’s Black Music Collective. According to the Recording Academy, the Black Music Icon Award celebrates Black music creators whose artistry, innovation, and service have profoundly shaped the global music industry and inspired generations.
Brandy described the honor as deeply meaningful, reflecting on her long journey in entertainment and her place within the broader legacy of Black music.
“So grateful and truly humbled to receive the Recording Academy’s Black Music Icon Award,” she said in a statement. “This honor means more than words—standing on the shoulders of those who paved the way, and celebrating the legacy, resilience, and brilliance of Black music.”
Brandy rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with her quadruple-platinum self-titled debut album, quickly becoming one of the defining voices of contemporary R&B. She later cemented her cultural impact with the hit sitcom Moesha and made history starring in Disney’s television adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a groundbreaking production for representation on mainstream television.
Her second album, Never Say Never, achieved five-times platinum status and featured the Grammy-winning duet “The Boy Is Mine,” which became one of the most successful R&B songs of its era. Over the course of her career, Brandy has released eight studio albums, including Christmas With Brandy (2023), and has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
Beyond music, Brandy has maintained a steady presence in film and television, appearing in projects ranging from I Still Know What You Did Last Summer to the musical drama Queens and Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red. She is also preparing to release a memoir titled PHASES, which will chronicle her personal and professional journey, shaped by years of reflection, resilience, and healing.
The Recording Academy also announced that Kirk Franklin will receive the Black Music Icon Award alongside Brandy, while Pharrell Williams will be honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. praised this year’s honorees, noting that their influence extends far beyond genre boundaries.
“Pharrell, Brandy and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft,” he said. “Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention, and shapes culture.”
The honors ceremony will take place in January 2026, serving as a prelude to the Grammy Awards and spotlighting the enduring global impact of Black music and its leading figures.
