Chaka Khan is getting her flowers at the 2026 Soul Train Awards.
The legendary singer will receive the Classic Soul Honor when the ceremony airs Nov. 27, BET announced Thursday.
The award recognizes a legacy artist whose influence and decades of work have helped shape soul music and R&B. For Chicago-born Khan, the celebration will take place in her hometown.
“Chaka Khan is the embodiment of soul music,” BET President Louis Carr said in a press release.
“From her groundbreaking work with Rufus to a solo career that has produced some of the most iconic records in music history, she has continually expanded the possibilities of R&B and soul while inspiring generations of artists to find and own their voices,” he added.
Known to fans as the “Queen of Funk,” Khan’s catalog includes the hits “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “I’m Every Woman,” and “I Feel for You.” The singer-songwriter’s music blends soul, funk, R&B and pop and has crossed generations.
The Grammy winner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 with the Musical Excellence Award and received the Recording Academy’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.
Her latest album, CHAKZILLA, features collaborations with Sia, Snoop Dogg, Lenny Kravitz and songwriter and producer Greg Kurstin, according to BET.
“Chaka Khan is an artist whose influence can be heard across generations, whose artistry has helped define the very essence of soul music, and whose legacy continues to inspire the music we hear today,” said Connie Orlando, BET’s executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy.
As previously reported, Anthony Anderson will host this year’s ceremony in Chicago. The event marks the Soul Train Awards’ return after a three-year hiatus, with the last show airing in 2023.
Orlando executive produces the broadcast for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment will produce the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
The Soul Train Awards Air Friday, Nov. 27 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
