Grammy's Special Merit Awards Honor Chaka Khan, Cher, RAYE and More

The Recording Academy's annual ceremony celebrated lifetime achievements and social impact in music.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:55am

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The Recording Academy's 2026 Special Merit Awards ceremony honored several music legends, including Chaka Khan, Cher, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, and the late Whitney Houston, with lifetime achievement awards. The event also recognized Bernie Taupin, Eddie Palmieri, and Sylvia Rhone with Trustees Awards, and presented the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award to RAYE, BloodPop, and Mike Sabath for the song "Ice Cream Man." The ceremony featured poignant moments, including BloodPop's call to "Abolish ICE" while accepting the social change award.

Why it matters

The Special Merit Awards shine a light on the Recording Academy's efforts to recognize the lifetime achievements and social impact of artists, songwriters, and industry figures beyond the high-profile Grammy telecast. This year's honorees span multiple generations and genres, underscoring the breadth of musical excellence and activism celebrated by the awards.

The details

In addition to the lifetime achievement recipients, the ceremony honored several other special award winners. Bernie Taupin, Eddie Palmieri, and Sylvia Rhone received Trustees Awards for their contributions to the recording industry. John Chowning was presented with the Technical Grammy Award. Jennifer Jimenez of South Miami Senior High School was named the Music Educator Award recipient. And the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award went to the writers of RAYE's "Ice Cream Man" - RAYE, BloodPop, and Mike Sabath.

  • The Special Merit Awards ceremony took place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the day before the annual Grammy Awards telecast.
  • Lifetime achievement recipient Paul Simon was previously honored with his former duo partner Art Garfunkel in 2003.

The players

Chaka Khan

Legendary R&B singer who received a lifetime achievement award.

Cher

Pop icon who received a lifetime achievement award and sent thanks via video.

RAYE

British singer-songwriter who won the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award for "Ice Cream Man."

Whitney Houston

Acclaimed singer who received a posthumous lifetime achievement award, seven years after her cousin Dionne Warwick was honored.

BloodPop

Songwriter and producer who accepted the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award on behalf of the writers of "Ice Cream Man."

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What they’re saying

“Nine too many people. Abolish ICE. Please.”

— BloodPop, Songwriter and producer (Billboard)

What’s next

The 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony will take place the day after the Special Merit Awards, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

The takeaway

The Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards continue to honor the lifetime achievements and social impact of a diverse array of music icons, from legendary performers to influential songwriters and industry figures. This year's ceremony highlighted the enduring legacies of artists like Chaka Khan, Cher, and Whitney Houston, as well as the power of music to drive social change, as exemplified by the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award.