Lauryn Hill to receive ‘Living Legend Icon Award’ at 2026 BET Awards
Lauryn Hill will be presented with the ‘Living Legend Icon Award’ at the BET Awards this year.
The 2026 ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on June 28th, 2026, hosted by Druski.
On June 4th, it was announced that the iconic Fugees rapper will be receiving a special award.
The ‘Living Legend Icon Award’ “honours the pioneers who mastered their craft and never let go of the culture.”
In a post on X, BET wrote, “Ms Lauryn Hill has always rewritten the rules – weaving soul, hip-hop, and raw truth into music; bearing her heart and soul on every track. Now, decades after her voice first cracked open the culture, we’re giving her flowers she has always deserved – honouring her with the Living Legend Icon Award at this year’s BET Awards.”
Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming, and music strategy at BET, also shared a statement about the big award.
“Ms Lauryn Hill is the very definition of a living legend,” she said. “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.”
As for the awards themselves, Cardi B leads the way with six nominations, while Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist have five nominations.
In addition, A$AP Rocky, SZA, T.I., Bruno Mars, Bryson Tiller, Metro Boomin, Chris Brown, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and YK Niece each received three nominations.