9 Black Artists Including Tupac and Janet Jackson Inducted Into 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame

Nine legendary Black artists are being recognized for shaping the soundtrack of our lives.

The Recording Academy has announced its 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, and more than half of this year’s 14 honored recordings are by Black artists. The Hall of Fame, established in 1973, celebrates recordings that are at least 25 years old and have made lasting cultural and historical impact. With this year’s additions, the Hall now includes 1,179 iconic records spanning nearly a century of music.

Among the newly inducted works:

Tupac Shakur- All Eyez On Me
Janet Jackson- Rhythm Nation 1814
Ella Jenkins
Bertha “Chippie” Hill
Eric B. & Rakim
Funkadelic
Alice Coltrane
The Soul Stirrers

These selections reflect the depth and range of Black artistry across genres, from hip-hop and funk to jazz, gospel, blues, and pop.

AP Ella Jenkins — In this Monday, Aug. 4, 2014 photo, children’s songwriter and performer Ella Jenkins poses for a portrait two days before her 90th birthday in Chicago. Jenkins, who has never given birth, has through her music, as much experience dealing with young children as any grandmother. And she continues to produce music for her favored audience, including her 40th album titled More Multicultural Childrens Songs from Ella Jenkins being released this month. Shes been dubbed “The First Lady of Childrens Music,” an honorific she humbly acknowledges. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

The Grammy Hall of Fame was created to honor recordings released before 1959, but today it recognizes music across generations that continues to influence how we listen, create, and connect. This year’s inductees will receive official certificates at the Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 8, hosted by the Grammy Museum.

It’s more than nostalgia. It’s acknowledgment of creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural impact that still echoes today.

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