Janet Jackson to appear at 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala as Rhythm Nation 1814 earns induction

Janet Jackson will make a special appearance at the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum’s 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on Friday, 8 May at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, celebrating the induction of her landmark album Rhythm Nation 1814 into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The five-time Grammy Award winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and global music icon will join an expanded line-up that now includes Erykah Badu, Fyütch & Aura V, and Taylor Hanson.

Previously announced performers for the event include George Clinton, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Josh Groban, Lucinda Williams, Norah Jones, Take 6 and Teddy Swims.

This year’s gala will honour the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings through a series of tribute performances. Fyütch & Aura V will perform Ella Jenkins’ “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song”, while George Clinton, Funkadelic guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight and Erykah Badu will pay tribute to Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain. Ann and Nancy Wilson will perform selections from Heart’s Dreamboat Annie, Lucinda Williams will honour Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Take 6 will celebrate The Soul Stirrers’ “Jesus Gave Me Water”, and Taylor Hanson will perform a tribute to Nick Drake’s Pink Moon.

Norah Jones, recipient of the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, will also perform, while Josh Groban and Teddy Swims are set to join a tribute to Warner Records, this year’s Visionary of Music Award recipient.

The 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame class features 14 recordings spanning nearly 100 years of music history, from 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me to Radiohead’s OK Computer. Other inductees include works by Alice Coltrane, Bertha “Chippie” Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Funkadelic, Heart, Janet Jackson, Lucinda Williams, Nick Drake, The Rouse Brothers, Selena and The Soul Stirrers.

An online auction will also accompany the gala from 5 May to 21 May, offering signed guitars from leading artists including Charli XCX, ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter, alongside platinum tickets to the 2027 Grammy Awards. Proceeds will support the Grammy Museum.

Veteran journalist Anthony Mason will return as host, while former Grammy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the event alongside Renato Basile, Chantel Sausedo and Lynne Sheridan. Musical direction will be led by Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning composer, producer and conductor Cheche Alara.