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Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Lauryn Hill will be honored with the Living Legend Icon Award at the 2026 BET Awards, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to music and culture over the past three decades.
The awards ceremony will air live on June 28 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with comedian and entertainer Druski serving as host.
According to BET, the Living Legend Icon Award celebrates artists who have not only mastered their craft but have also left a lasting impact on culture and future generations.
“Ms. Lauryn Hill is the very definition of a living legend,” said Connie Orlando, Executive Vice President of Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy at BET. “Across every era, she has never chased the moment; she has shaped it. Her artistry redefined what was possible in our music and gave a generation permission to be fearless, spiritual, and free.”
Hill first gained international recognition as a member of the acclaimed hip-hop group The Fugees, whose landmark 1996 album The Score spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200 chart and became one of the most influential albums of its era.
She cemented her status as a music icon with the release of her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998. The critically acclaimed album blended hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, and gospel influences, producing hits such as Doo Wop (That Thing), which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album made history as the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and helped Hill become the first woman to earn five Grammy Awards in a single night. Its cultural significance has since been recognized through induction into the National Recording Registry in 2014 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2024.
Earlier this year, Hill returned to the Grammy stage for a special tribute performance honoring the late Roberta Flackand D’Angelo.
The Living Legend Icon Award is BET’s newest honorary distinction. It follows the network’s Ultimate Icon Award, which has previously recognized entertainment giants such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin.
At 51, Hill remains one of the most influential figures in contemporary music, with a legacy that continues to inspire artists across multiple genres and generations.
English (US) ·