A dazzling assembly of living legends and young hitmakers shared the stage at the Beverly Hilton, where the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala underscored the importance of preserving and celebrating transcendent recordings.
Eleven albums and three singles were inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame as part of this year’s class. The inducted recordings span the many moods, shades and colors to be found across nearly a century of popular music: the angst-ridden alternative rock of Radiohead’s OK Computer, the joyful bounce of Amor Prohibido by the late tejano icon Selena, the melancholic introspection of Nick Drake’s initially underrated Pink Moon, and the defiant brilliance of 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me.
Here are six of the most poignant moments from the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala, which honored this year’s class of inducted recordings.
The Sound Of Heart Is Truly Timeless
In the summer of 1975, Seattle band Heart released its debut album, Dreamboat Annie — a majestic fusion of ragged arena rock and lilting folk textures. Fronted by singer Ann Wilson and guitarist Nancy Wilson, Heart were one of the first major women-led bands of the 1970s. Now 75 and 72, respectively, the sisters were in rare form at the Gala, delivering raucous versions of their hits “Magic Man,” “Dreamboat Annie,” and “Crazy On You.” “Roger Fisher was the merman, the captain who set the course,” Ann Wilson said as she received the honor, highlighting the artistic contribution of the founding member. “We were the original gypsy tribe,” Nancy quipped. Their performance showed how their iconic first album has survived the test of time with grace.
There Would Be No Americana Without Lucinda Williams
Call it alternative country, bluesy roots music, or Americana. Regardless of classification, Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road remains one of the grand albums of the 1990s. Its soulful tapestry of thorny guitar licks and the singer/songwriter’s passionate vocalizing ignited a new wave of interest in music that reflected the emotional soundscape of America. Backed by an enthusiastic house band, Williams had no trouble recreating the lethal mixture of ferocity and delicate sorrow found in the album’s title track and the radio smash “Can’t Let Go.”
The Social Message Of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 Marches On
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There was no need for Janet Jackson to perform any songs from her 1989 concept album Rhythm Nation 1814. Her moving speech, which had the capacity crowd hanging from every word, was more than enough. “Rhythm Nation still resonates,” she said, accepting the album’s induction alongside co-producer Jimmy Jam. “It’s an ongoing force that fights bigotry and promotes understanding. It transcends all borders, nationalities and faiths.” “I hope you hear my heart’s desire when we first created this suite of songs,” Jimmy Jam added. “The prayer driving [them] remains the same: that peace prevails.”
Sometimes All You Need Is A Sultry Voice — And A Jazz Trio
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The second recipient of the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award, singer/songwriter Norah Jones sang luminous versions of two Charles classics, backed by bass and drums: “Seven Spanish Angels” and “Hallelujah I Love Her So.” Jones, who won two Grammy Awards, including the Grammy for Record Of The Year, for her 2004 duet with Charles on “Here We Go Again,” spoke warmly about working with the legendary performer. “His music is everything to me,” she said. “And I wouldn’t be anything without listening to him.”
Never Underestimate The Sacred (And Profane) Power Of Funk
Perhaps the Gala’s most indelible moment — and definitely the most rapturous – happened during the induction of Maggot Brain, the 1971 powerhouse by George Clinton’s Funkadelic. Wearing all kinds of extravagant hats and glittery outfits, 84-year-old Clinton — joined by Erykah Badu, Funkadelic guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight, and the house band led by an ecstatic Cheche Alara on keyboards — performed the album’s first 13 minutes (the title track, followed by the hypnotic “Can You Get To That.”) It was a wonderful jam session, seeped in psychedelia, shades of cosmic rock, and impossibly funky grooves. Badu made it even more personal and poignant when she recalled being 5 years old and witnessing her mother lose her mind with joy when a Funkadelic track played on the radio.
A Visionary Record Label Celebrates In Style
From Prince and Joni Mitchell to Madonna and Fleetwood Mac, Warner Records, this year’s recipient of the Visionary Of Music Award, has nurtured the careers of many legendary artists. Warner’s Co-Chairmen Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson emphasized the importance of musicians taking risks and daring to be different. But music speaks louder than words, and it was two of the label’s stars that gave the Gala its lush finale: Teddy Swims displayed his charisma on intense renditions of “Mr. Know It All” and “Lose Control,” while Josh Groban premiered his recently released 10th album CINEMATIC with a velvety “Brucia La Terra” and, joined by Take 6, a stirring “Stand By Me.”
