There are plenty of idioms about the importance of perseverance through hard times. But as 2Pac sat in a prison cell in fall 1995, he just needed an ally. He had titled his album from March of that year Me Against The World, and that was exactly how he felt. In 1994 alone, he pled guilty to a misdemeanor after being charged with assaulting an artist at a concert at Michigan State University; he was found guilty of assaulting the directors of the film Menace II Society; and he was the victim of an armed robbery at New York City's Quad Studios that left him shot five times, leaving him paranoid that his former-friend-turned-rival Notorious B.I.G.set up the shooting and jumpstarting a musical and violent beef between the East Coast and West Coast rap scenes.

In February 1995, 2Pac, born Tupac Shakur, was convicted of sexual abuse and faced a potential sentence of nearly five years. Me Against The World had become the first album to top the Billboard charts by an artist in prison. But the three-year span before All Eyez On Me, his fourth studio album and his final to drop while he was still alive, was tumultuous, a taxing era on his spirit. And he felt that despite creating art that advocated for others, he didn't have much help when he needed it.

In a nervous, harrowing interview at Rikers Island with VIBE's Kevin Powell in 1995 as the rapper awaited sentencing for the sexual abuse case, Pac recounted the Quad Studios shooting and gave insight into his trauma. "I was so scared of this responsibility that I was running away from it. But I see now that whether I show up for work or not, the evil forces are going to be at me," Pac said. " ... I've been having nightmares, thinking they're still shooting me." 

He also gave his side of the sexual abuse case, stating he didn't rape the woman in question, but admitting he didn't do much to protect her from his cohorts' sexual assault, either. He sounded reformed, denouncing the thug life persona he had adopted and assuming responsibility for his music's impact. "If you see everybody dying because of what you saying, it don't matter that you didn't make them die, it just matters that you didn't save them," Pac said in the VIBE interview. " … This Thug Life stuff, it was just ignorance. My intentions was always in the right place. I never killed anybody, I never raped anybody, I never committed no crimes that weren't honorable –– that weren't to defend myself. So that's what I'm going to show them. I'm going to show people my true intentions, and my true heart."

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Creating music was the last thing on 2Pac's mind while battling his demons in prison. "I don't even got the thrill to rap no more," Pac told VIBE. "In here, I don't even remember my lyrics." But his debt in the outside world was piling up just as high as his pain while locked up inside, and his money was running low as his mother was on the verge of losing her home. 

Through his wife, Pac reportedly reached out to Suge Knight for financial help, and the Death Row Records founder delivered. He reportedly sent $15,000 to the rapper and began visiting Shakur in prison. Knight eventually struck a deal: He'd get his legal team to help with Pac's case and put up the money for his $1.4 million bail; in exchange, 2Pac would deliver three albums. Pac joined the Death Row family, alongside L.A. rap behemoths Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, solidifying a label roster rivaling any others rap music had ever created.

Read: For The Record: A Tribe Called Quest's Groundbreaking 'The Low End Theory' At 30

When Pac was released from prison, his repentance for Thug Life went out the window. He descended from remorse to unbridled anger: He was almost killed, he believed he was betrayed by one of his closest friends, Black civil rights leaders were speaking out against him despite his familial lineage to the Black Panther Party via his mother, Afeni Shakur, and he had spent months isolated in a prison cell for a crime he felt he didn't commit.

He also knew the big stage required dedication to a persona. "When you do rap albums, you got to train yourself," he told VIBE. "You got to constantly be in character." That's not to say Pac was putting on an act, though: Even as he contradicted himself, every word felt sincere. He showed off his iconic Thug Life tattoo on his stomach. "Yes, I did say Thug Life was dead, but when (New York's hip-hop scene) said (they didn't have information on my shooting), they breathed new life into me. Thug Life became not only a rap group, but a way of life, for life, for me," he said in another interview with VIBE. "They said I couldn't be in pain … Remember this lack of consciousness when I come out. Remember this lack of mercy when I come out. Remember this lack of compassion when I come out."

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2Pac remembered, and with All Eyez On Me, he didn't let anyone else forget. He recognized his mortality and recorded at a frantic pace, creating enough original material to make one of hip-hop's first double albums, and leaving what felt like an infinite amount of records in the vault after his untimely death in 1996. (Rumors at the time circulated that Pac created a double album to speed toward his contract requirements after uneasiness arose around Suge Knight.)

He rode on his enemies across All Eyez On Me, taking on everyone who he felt turned their back on him when he needed them most. On "How Do U Want It," he spits venom at civil rights activist and politician C. Delores Tucker, who was leading the charge against rap music that year. "Instead of tryin' to help a n***a, you destroy a brother / Worse than the others; Bill Clinton, Mister Bob Dole / You're too old to understand the way the game's told," he fumes. While Pac wouldn't come after Biggie on wax by name until "Hit 'Em Up," it was clear that many of his shots weren't against the hypothetical haters that litter other rap songs. "Spitting at adversaries, envious and after me / I'd rather die before they capture me, watch me bleed," Pac says on the album opener "Ambitionz Az A Ridah."

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Even the carefree fun of All Eyez On Me is tinged with jadedness. "All Bout U" has a dance-ready beat by Daz Dillinger and a melodious chorus by Nate Dogg, but Pac still distrusts women after his rape charge: "You're probably crooked as the last trick," he sneers, before he, Snoop Dogg and the Outlawz chastise women in their circle as gold-digging groupies.

The sentiment continues on songs like "Skandalouz" and "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch"; at the end of the latter, Pac speaks directly to Tucker again, stating that the song explains the misogyny in his music. He spends the first couple of verses of "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" celebrating his freedom with fellow indicted rapper Snoop, but by the third verse, he's refocused on protection and vengeance: "Jealousy is misery, sufferin' is greed / Better be prepared when you cowards f**k with me."

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The album is two discs long, but Pac's blunt, direct style makes it fly by, like repeated shots of potent-yet-smooth scotch. His rhyme schemes weren't complex or multifaceted, but you never questioned how he felt––and his musical approach was versatile. He sounds just as much at home popping off at foes over Dre's funky synths on "Can't C Me" and seesawing with Snoop over Daz's thumping synths as he does on the temporary East Coast truce record "Got My Mind Made Up," where he and Snoop team up with Method Man and Redman over record scratches that wouldn't sound out of place in a DJ Premier set.

Dr. Dre didn't produce as much of All Eyez On Me as many would've thought when Pac signed to Death Row, but Daz Dillinger and Johnny J—with the help of DJ Quik on mixing and mastering, as reported by Pitchfork—easily hold up the sound of the album, giving it a sheen that contrasts from the dusty, unrefined tone of Pac's previous works. 

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Despite the reputation of 2Pac abandoning his conscious side in favor of the Thug Life, he never strayed from his duty to speak up about the sociopolitical conditions plaguing Black people—he just switched his approach. The individual perspective may feel less direct than previous songs like "Trapped" or "Brenda's Got A Baby," but the antagonists remain the same.

On "Picture Me Rollin','' he seizes joy over a lighthearted Johnny J production despite the threats of recidivism from a racist, corrupt legal system. "They got me under surveillance / That's what somebody be tellin' / Know there's dope bein' sold, but I ain't the one sellin'," he insists. " … The federales wanna see me dead / N***as put prices on my head."

On "I Ain't Mad At Cha," he laments the deteriorating friendship with someone from his block, but he looks on proudly as his old friend embraces Islam and reforms his life after prison, even as Pac himself embraces Thug Life. In the context of the rest of the album, "I Ain't Mad At Cha'' embodies Pac at his most contradictory, compelling and tragic self: While he recognizes the conditions that push people toward street life and by showing his old friend's decision to move away from it, he dually admits he made a conscious decision to embrace the rage that sprouted from his trauma. 

That choice would cost him his life: In September 1996, he was shot and killed while leaving a boxing match, between Mike Tyson and Bruce Seldon, with Suge Knight. 2Pac was taken too soon, but All Eyez On Me still gave a sprawling, skillful image of one of rap's brightest artists ever, and an honest, fearless war cry from a man who was fighting for his life. 

N.W.A Are 'Straight Outta Compton': For The Record

The Grammy Museum is honoring multi-Grammy-Award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Norah Jones with the Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award at the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. Taking place Friday, May 8, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, the evening will honor the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings, which were announced in February. Jones will take the stage for a special performance during the evening, which will also feature one-of-a-kind musical moments from a lineup of artists to be announced soon. 

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala will also recognize Warner Records as the 2026 label honoree in celebration of its enduring contributions to recorded music and its role in championing artists across generations.

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings include 11 albums and three songs that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old. Spanning nearly a century of recorded music, the newly inducted recordings range from 2Pac's All Eyez On Me to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 to Radiohead's OK Computer. Others include recordings by Alice Coltrane, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Funkadelic, Heart, Lucinda Williams, Nick Drake, The Rouse Brothers, Selena, and The Soul Stirrers. Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy.

With 14 new titles added, the Grammy Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,179 inducted recordings.

See the full list of the 2026 recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame below.

See the full list of all recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

Tables and seats for the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala are now available for purchase.

Learn More About Norah Jones

With a career defined by timeless songwriting, unmistakable musicianship and a singular voice that has resonated across jazz, pop, soul, and country, Norah Jones has built a body of work that is both intimate and influential. Her artistry has shaped the sound of modern music for more than two decades, making her a fitting recipient of an honor that celebrates enduring creative impact.

"I'm so honored to receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award," Jones said. "Ray Charles was my musical hero, and he changed the way so many of us hear and feel music. To be recognized in connection with his legacy, and as part of a night that also celebrates such important recorded works, is special for me."

"Norah Jones represents the kind of artistry that leaves a lasting imprint on music and culture," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Her work reflects a deep musicality, emotional honesty, and a spirit of exploration that echoes the legacy of Ray Charles himself. We are honored to celebrate Norah, this year's Grammy Hall Of Fame recordings, and Warner Records as part of an evening dedicated to the enduring impact of great music."

"Norah Jones has created a body of work defined by emotional honesty, musical depth, and a voice that is instantly recognizable," Grammy Museum President/CEO Michael Stickasaid. "Her artistry has resonated across generations and genres, which makes her a remarkable recipient of this honor. We're also proud to recognize Warner Records and to celebrate this year's Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings — enduring works that continue to shape our understanding of music's history and impact."

Learn More About The Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award

Inspired by the boundless genius of Ray Charles — whose legacy as a performer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur forever transformed the musical landscape — the Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award recognizes an artist whose influence echoes across generations. The award celebrates artists who transcend genre, redefine creativity, and leave an indelible mark on music and culture. Whether through innovation in sound, groundbreaking artistry, or an unwavering commitment to musical excellence, the recipient embodies the pioneering spirit of Ray Charles, one of music's greatest architects.

"Ray Charles was a singular artist whose influence continues to reach across every corner of music, and this award was created to honor that same spirit of originality, excellence and lasting impact," Ray Charles Foundation President Valerie Ervin said. "Norah Jones is an artist whose work reflects those qualities so beautifully, and we are thrilled to see her recognized with this year's Architect of Sound Award."

Multi-Grammy-Award-winning artist Jon Batiste received the inaugural Ray Charles Architect Of Sound Award in 2025.

2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings

• ALL EYEZ ON ME — 2Pac (Album)

• AMOR PROHIBIDO — Selena (Album)

• CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD — Lucinda Williams (Album) 

• DREAMBOAT ANNIE — Heart (Album)

• "JESUS GAVE ME WATER" — The Soul Stirrers (Single) 

• JOURNEY IN SATCHIDANANDA — Alice Coltrane (Album) 

• MAGGOT BRAIN — Funkadelic (Album)

• OK COMPUTER — Radiohead (Album) 

• "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL" — The Rouse Brothers (Single)

• PAID IN FULL — Eric B. & Rakim (Album)

• PINK MOON — Nick Drake (Album) 

• RHYTHM NATION 1814 — Janet Jackson (Album) 

• "TROUBLE IN MIND" — Bertha "Chippie" Hill (Single) 

• YOU’LL SING A SONG AND I’LL SING A SONG — Ella Jenkins (Album)

About The Grammy Hall Of Fame

The Grammy Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

Former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, alongside Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo, Lindsay Saunders Carl, and Lynne Sheridan. Grammy- and Latin-Grammy-Award-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara will serve as musical director. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason will return as host.

For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

At the 2026 Grammys, winning artists took to the stage with much more than gratitude on their minds. Grammy winners such as Lady Gaga and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Cher supported rising artists, particularly women in the music industry. Kendrick Lamar deflected from his own victories to pay tribute to Luther Vandross, namesake of his Record-Of-The-Year-winning tune, and the hip-hop community at large.

In particular, many artists reacted to the ongoing campaign of deportations and anti-immigrant violence happening across the U.S. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean all spoke movingly in support of immigrants, while many other artists wore "ICE OUT" pins.

Below, revisit some of the most moving acceptance speeches from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch all the 2026 Grammys acceptance speeches in full.

Kendrick Lamar Makes Rap History & Shouts Out The Hip-Hop Community

After dominating the 2025 Grammys with "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar took home five Grammys this year and became the rapper with the most Grammy wins ever. After winning three Grammys earlier in the day during the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, the Los Angeles artist won the first Grammy Award of the telecast for Best Rap Album for GNX. With this Grammy win, he topped JAY-Z's 25 wins to snatch the record for most Grammys won by a rapper.

"Every time I tell you this: Hip-hop is gonna always be right here," Lamar said in his Grammy acceptance speech, dedicating his win to the hip-hop movement. "We gonna be in these suits, we gonna be looking good, we gonna be having our folks with us, we're gonna be having the culture with us."

Kendrick also shouted out Clipse, with whom he won Best Rap Performance earlier in the day for their track "Chains & Whips." He would return to the stage once more before the end of the night to take home the Grammy for Record of the Year for his song "luther" with SZA, bringing his career total to 27 Grammy wins.

Bad Bunny Stands Up For Immigrants

Of the many statements made in support of immigrants at the 2026 Grammys, few felt more powerful and resonant than Bad Bunny's, who twice spoke on the issue on the Grammy stage. Accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the Puerto Rican superstar front-loaded his acceptance speech with a rebuke of the dehumanizing rhetoric faced by immigrants, especially Latin Americans such as himself.

"Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say: ICE out," he declared. "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans."

Later that night, after winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, a visibly shocked and overwhelmed Bad Bunny returned to the stage to deliver another Grammy acceptance speech, though this time mostly in Spanish. It was an appropriate move considering the history-making album is the first non-English-language album to ever win the Grammy for Album Of The Year. But given his stunned reaction, Bad Bunny may have just been too emotional to so quickly translate most of his thoughts. But in a fitting move, he dedicated his Grammy win to "all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams."

Olivia Dean Tearfully Takes Best New Artist

"I never imagined I'd be up here, let alone nominated," Olivia Dean said as she tearfully accepted the Grammy for Best New Artist. Having just performed her U.K. chart-topping single "Man I Need" on the Grammy stage, the British singer used her platform to speak out in support of immigrants, including her own grandmother, who immigrated to the U.K. from Guyana as part of the Windrush generation.

"I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," Dean said. "I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated."

Lady Gaga Supports Women In Music

As well-known as she is for awards-show spectacles – Remember the meat dress? – Lady Gaga kept things (mostly) low-key and earnest. Following a dynamic performance of "Abracadabra," she returned to the stage to accept the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for MAYHEM.

Thanking her fiancé, Michael Polansky, and her collaborators, including Cirkut, who won the Grammy for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical winner, and Gessaffelstein, the latter of whom won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his remix of "Abracadabra," Lady Gaga offered some encouraging words for women in the music industry.

"When you're in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard," she said. "Always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas, fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer."

"Abracadabra" also won the Grammy for Best Dance Pop Recording, bringing her total career Grammy wins to 16.

Lola Young Swears She Didn't Expect Grammy Win

Though Lola Young certainly had stiff competition in the Best Pop Solo Performance Category, including veterans such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, nobody was more shocked at her Grammy win in than Young herself. The singer, also nominated for Best New Artist, had just wrapped an emotional piano rendition of her track "Messy" earlier in the evening, one of her first live performances in four months following a health scare.

"I don't have any speech prepared," a visibly shocked Young said. "I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!" Utterly overwhelmed and searching for words, Young dropped a few less-than-TV-appropriate words before thanking her friends and mother and fleeing the stage while in a state of pure ecstasy.

Billie Eilish Gets Serious During Song Of The Year Speech

Winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for "WILDFLOWER," her 10th Grammy, didn't seem to weigh heavily on Billie Eilish's mind as she took the stage to accept the award. Flanked by her brother and creative partner FINNEAS, both wearing "ICE OUT" pins, as were many of the other attendees, the pop star weighed in on the current anti-immigration policies being carried out in the U.S.

"No one is illegal on stolen land," Eilish said. "It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now … I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter."

The more serious tone of the speech contrasted with Eilish's previous wins, but it felt more than appropriate given the current climate.

Cher's Audacious Return To The Grammy Stage

Cher is always a class act. With dozens of hits across a decades-spanning career, she earned the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award deservedly. Her acceptance speech on the Grammy stage quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

First, she gave a stirring speech reflecting on her storied yet tumultuous time in show business. "I was famous at 19 and had a top-rated show in my 20s, actually, but it didn't occur to me how rough my career was going to be," she said. "I was either a loser or winning an Oscar. I'm sure a lot of you in the audience know what I'm talking about."

Cher also reflected on her stint in the "elephant graveyard" of Las Vegas in the '80s and her pioneering use of AutoTune on her Grammy-winning hit single "Believe." She closed out her speech by encouraging the audience: "Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it's not happening now, it will happen soon."

Then things got a little bit … whacky. Apparently unclear that she would be presenting the Grammy for Record of the Year, the singer nearly walked off the stage before the crowd and host Trevor Noah coaxed her back. Then she mistakenly declared the late Luther Vandross the winner, in reference to the winning song, "luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Oh Cher, don't you ever change!

Jelly Roll Goes Full Country Music

Jelly Roll had already won two Grammys earlier in the day for collaborations with Brandon Lake and Shaboozey, but it wasn't until the evening that he got to ascend the Grammy stage solo. Winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, he made his acceptance speech into a sort of country song in its own right, thanking his wife, referencing his Christian faith, and describing the troubles that led him to turn to music.

"I didn't think I had a chance, y'all," he said. "There were days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human … There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a six-by-eight-foot cell. And I believed that those two things could change my life."

The singer wrapped his speech by once again invoking religion: "Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label."

"luther" Wins Record of the Year

Cher may have been a bit off when she confidently misread that the Grammy for Record of the Year was going to "Luther Vandross." But the actual winners, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, made it clear that their chart-topping tune "luther" was a spiritual victory for the legendary R&B star who inspired the song, which prominently samples Vandross' and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 cover of "If This World Were Mine."

"First and foremost, let's give a shout-out to the late, great Luther Vandross," co-producer Sounwave began. "It was very, very, very important to keep the integrity of his record."

Lamar echoed the sentiment. "It's one of my favorite artists of all time, and they granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you we damn near all dropped a tear.

"Being able to put our vocals on it, it proves that we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals," he continued. "They granted us that. They said, 'No cursing,' though."

Finally, SZA struck a note of hopefulness at the end of the speeches. "I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it's so scary, and all is lost," she said. "We can go on. We need each other. We need to trust each other and trust ourselves, trust your heart. We're not governed by the government, we're governed by God."

This Grammy win for "luther" puts Lamar in elite territory as a back-to-back Record Of The Year Grammy winner, joining fellow winners like Billie Eilish, U2, and the late Roberta Flack, the latter of whom was tributed in the annual In Memoriam celebration led by Ms. Lauryn Hill earlier in the ceremony.

The Recording Academy today revealed the 2026 inducted recordings to the distinguished Grammy Hall Of Fame. This year’s additions include 11 albums and three songs that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old.

The 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings span nearly a century of recorded music and range from 2Pac's All Eyez On Me to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 to Radiohead's OK Computer. Others include recordings by Alice Coltrane, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Funkadelic, Heart, Lucinda Williams, Nick Drake, The Rouse Brothers, Selena, and The Soul Stirrers.

Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy. With 14 new titles added, the Grammy Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,179 inducted recordings.

See the full list of the 2026 recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame below.

See the full list of all recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

The inducted recordings will be honored at 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, presented by the Grammy Museum and the Recording Academy, on May 8 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles; performers at the gala will be announced at a later date.

Tables and seats for the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala are now available for purchase.

"It's a privilege to recognize these influential recordings as the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inductees," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Each selection reflects the creativity, craft and cultural impact that recorded music can carry across decades. We're honored to help preserve these works and celebrate the artists and communities behind them, so their legacies continue to inspire generations to come."

"The Grammy Hall Of Fame is a vital bridge between music's past and present — honoring recordings that changed the way we listen, create and connect," Grammy Museum President/CEO Michael Sticka added. "We're proud to celebrate this year's class at the Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala this May."

2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings

• ALL EYEZ ON ME — 2Pac (Album)

• AMOR PROHIBIDO — Selena (Album)

• CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD — Lucinda Williams (Album) 

• DREAMBOAT ANNIE — Heart (Album)

• "JESUS GAVE ME WATER" — The Soul Stirrers (Single) 

• JOURNEY IN SATCHIDANANDA — Alice Coltrane (Album) 

• MAGGOT BRAIN — Funkadelic (Album)

• OK COMPUTER — Radiohead (Album) 

• "ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL" — The Rouse Brothers (Single)

• PAID IN FULL — Eric B. & Rakim (Album)

• PINK MOON — Nick Drake (Album) 

• RHYTHM NATION 1814 — Janet Jackson (Album) 

• "TROUBLE IN MIND" — Bertha "Chippie" Hill (Single) 

• YOU’LL SING A SONG AND I’LL SING A SONG — Ella Jenkins (Album)

About The Grammy Hall Of Fame

The Grammy Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

Former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, alongside Ron Basile, Chantel Sausedo, Lindsay Saunders Carl, and Lynne Sheridan. Grammy- and Latin-Grammy-Award-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara will serve as musical director. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason will return as host.

For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

Current Grammy nominees Clipse and Pharrell Williams have been announced as performers at the 2026 Grammys.

Clipse are nominated for five Grammy Awards this year: Album Of The Year (Let God Sort Em Out), Best Rap Performance ("Chains & Whips"), Best Rap Song ("The Birds Don't Sing"), Best Rap Album (Let God Sort Em Out), and Best Music Video ("So Be It").

Thirteen-time Grammy winner Pharrell Williams is nominated for four Grammy Awards this year: Album Of The Year (Let God Sort Em Out), Best Rap Performance ("Chains & Whips"), Best Rap Song ("The Birds Don't Sing"), and Best Music Film (Piece By Piece).

Previously announced performers include current Best New Artist nominees Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías, who will all perform in a special Best New Artist segment at the 2026 Grammys. Sabrina Carpenter will also perform at the 2026 Grammys.

Additional performers at the 2026 Grammys will be announced in the coming days.

See the full list of performers and hosts at the 2026 Grammys to date (updating in real time).

Prior to the 2026 Grammys telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.

Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episodes airs.

Fulwell Entertainment is producing the 2026 Grammy Awards for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Trevor Noah are executive producers.