Brandy Norwood will receive the Recording Academy’s Black Music Icon Award at a ceremony scheduled for Jan. 29 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The award is presented by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and recognizes Brandy’s contributions to music and culture over a career spanning nearly four decades. She rose to prominence in the 1990s and has since remained a key figure in contemporary R&B and vocal performance.
In a statement, Brandy described the honor as a reflection of the legacy of Black music and the artists who paved the way before her.
Gospel artist Kirk Franklin will also receive the Black Music Icon Award at the event. Pharrell Williams is set to be honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award in recognition of his influence across music and culture.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement that Brandy, Franklin and Williams have each built legacies that transcend genre and continue to shape global music culture.
The ceremony is part of the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors, an official Grammy Week 2026 event organized by the Black Music Collective. The 2026 Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Founded in 2020, the Black Music Collective was established to amplify Black voices within the Recording Academy and the wider music industry. Previous honorees include Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and Sylvia Rhone.