Grammys to Honor Cher, Santana, Houston in Diverse Merit Awards Class

SANTA MONICA, CA – December 19, 2025 – The Recording Academy has unveiled a stellar and strikingly diverse class of honorees for its 2026 Special Merit Awards, recognizing artists and industry figures whose contributions have indelibly shaped the landscape of modern music. The ceremony, set for January 31, 2026, during Grammy Week, will bestow Lifetime Achievement Awards upon pop culture titans Cher, Chaka Khan, Carlos Santana, and Paul Simon, alongside posthumous honors for vocal powerhouse Whitney Houston and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.

The awards also celebrate the crucial figures behind the scenes, with Trustees Awards going to legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin, trailblazing executive Sylvia Rhone, and Latin music innovator Eddie Palmieri. Computer-music visionary John Chowning will receive the Technical Grammy Award for his revolutionary work.

“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,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement. “Each of these honorees has made a profound and lasting impact.”

A Pantheon of Performers: Honoring Transcendent Legacies

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipients represent a masterclass in artistic longevity and genre-defining innovation. Carlos Santana, a 10-time Grammy winner, is celebrated for fusing Afro-Latin rhythms with rock and blues, a sound that has captivated global audiences for over five decades. His 1999 album Supernatural remains a landmark, tying Michael Jackson's record with nine Grammy wins in a single night. Similarly, Cher stands as a singular force in entertainment, being the only artist in history to land a No. 1 single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades. Her career, which has earned her an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Grammy, has consistently redefined pop stardom.

The "Queen of Funk," Chaka Khan, is recognized for her transformative vocal artistry that has traversed pop, R&B, jazz, and beyond. A 10-time Grammy winner and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, her voice has powered anthems of empowerment for generations. Songwriting icon Paul Simon, a 16-time Grammy winner, is honored for a body of work that includes timeless classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and the culturally significant album Graceland. A two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, his influence on the craft of songwriting is immeasurable.

The posthumous recognitions for Whitney Houston and Fela Kuti underscore the enduring power of their legacies. Houston, known simply as "The Voice," remains one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold. She was the first Black artist to earn three RIAA Diamond-certified albums, and her rendition of "I Will Always Love You" is the best-selling single by a female artist in history. The award further cements the legacy of an artist who set an untouchable standard for vocal excellence. Meanwhile, the honor for Fela Kuti validates the global impact of a revolutionary artist. The Nigerian musician and activist pioneered Afrobeat, a potent fusion of funk, jazz, and traditional West African rhythms that he used as a vehicle for fierce political commentary. His music, which brought him into direct and violent conflict with Nigeria's military regimes, continues to inspire artists from Beyoncé to Thom Yorke and provides the bedrock for the modern Afrobeats genre that dominates global charts today.

The Architects of Sound and Strategy

Beyond the spotlight, the Special Merit Awards honor the visionaries who built the industry's framework. The Trustees Award celebrates three such figures, beginning with lyricist Bernie Taupin. As the creative partner to Elton John, Taupin penned the words to some of popular music's most enduring songs, from "Your Song" to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." His work on over 30 consecutive Top 40 hits and his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame highlight the profound, yet often overlooked, impact of the lyricist.

The award for Sylvia Rhone marks a significant acknowledgment of a true trailblazer. In a career spanning five decades, Rhone shattered barriers, becoming the first woman to serve as CEO of a major record label and holding top roles at Atlantic, Elektra, Motown, and Epic Records. Her leadership was instrumental in shaping the rise of hip-hop and championing female artists like Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj. In an industry where top executive roles remain overwhelmingly held by white men—with a 2025 USC Annenberg study finding they hold over 84% of CEO and President positions—Rhone’s career stands as a testament to perseverance and excellence, paving the way for generations of diverse leaders.

Visionary pianist and bandleader Eddie Palmieri is honored for taking Afro-Caribbean music to new frontiers. Palmieri made history in 1975 when his album The Sun of Latin Music won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Latin Recording. A ten-time Grammy winner, he is celebrated for his bold fusion of salsa and jazz, particularly his pioneering "trombanga" sound that replaced trumpets with trombones, forever altering the texture of modern salsa.

The Technical Grammy Award recipient, John Chowning, is responsible for a sound that defined an entire era. His discovery of frequency modulation (FM) synthesis in 1967 was a watershed moment in electronic music. Stanford University licensed the patent to Yamaha, leading to the creation of the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer. This instrument's iconic digital sounds—from crystalline bells to electric pianos—became ubiquitous throughout 1980s pop music and revolutionized the possibilities of electronic sound creation for musicians everywhere.

A Tapestry of Influence: Reflecting a Global Music Landscape

Taken as a whole, the 2026 class of honorees paints a rich and expansive picture of musical achievement. The selections reflect a conscious effort by the Recording Academy to broaden its definition of merit, celebrating a global tapestry of influences and recognizing the diverse roles that contribute to a thriving musical ecosystem. The inclusion of foundational figures from Afrobeat and Latin music alongside titans of American pop, rock, and R&B signals an embrace of the genres that have become dominant forces in 21st-century music.

Honoring Fela Kuti and Eddie Palmieri is not just a nod to the past but a recognition of the present, where Afrobeats and Latin music artists consistently top streaming charts and sell out stadiums worldwide. It acknowledges the roots of these global movements and pays tribute to the pioneers who forged these paths. Similarly, celebrating Sylvia Rhone is a powerful statement about the importance of inclusive leadership. Her career demonstrates the immense value that diverse perspectives bring to the industry's highest echelons, a message that resonates strongly amid ongoing industry-wide conversations about equity and representation.

By placing a technical innovator like John Chowning and a master lyricist like Bernie Taupin on the same pedestal as global performing superstars, the Academy reinforces the collaborative nature of musical creation. It sends a clear message that the architecture of a song and the technology used to produce it are as worthy of celebration as the voice that sings it. This holistic view acknowledges that music is not just the product of a singular genius, but the culmination of artistry, innovation, and strategic vision from a wide array of talented individuals.