BET has announced that Ms. Lauryn Hill will receive the Living Legend Icon Award at the "BET Awards" 2026.
Culture's Biggest Night will broadcast live on Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Druski as host. Additional honorees, performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Living Legend Icon Award honors the pioneers who mastered their craft and never let go of the culture. This distinction belongs to the artists and creators whose body of work has remained essential not because the culture held on to them, but because they never stopped holding on to it.
A singular voice across hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae, Hill first captured the world's attention as a member of The Fugees, whose 1996 album The Score topped the charts and turned songs like "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not" into generational anthems. In 1998, she stepped forward with her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
"Ms. Lauryn Hill is the very definition of a living legend," said Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, 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. Her influence is woven into the fabric of the culture, and it is a profound honor to celebrate her legacy on Culture's Biggest Night."
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