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The Grammys Special Merit Awards paid tribute to some icons before the 2026 Grammys.
Cher, Chaka Khan, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti and Whitney Houston were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy at the ceremony held in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 31, per the Associated Press.
However, Khan, 72, was the only honoree in attendance at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre to accept the award, according to the outlet.
“Music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth,” she said during her acceptance speech, per the AP. “Through it, I saved my life.”
She was the only Lifetime Achievement recipient who appeared at the ceremony at the small Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on the eve of Sunday’s main Grammys ceremony.
Ahead of Khan receiving the award, a short documentary highlighting her career in the funk band Rufus and as a solo artist, featuring her hits like the 1974 Stevie Wonder-penned “Tell Me Something Good,” 1983’s “Ain’t Nobody,” 1978’s “I’m Every Woman” and 1984’s Prince-written “I Feel For You,” per the publication.
Three of Kuti’s children and Whitney’s family accepted the Lifetime Achievement Awards for them.
Kuti was described as a “producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the father of Afrobeat” and became the first African musician to receive the honor, according to the outlet.
Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, close friend and longtime manager praised Whitney for “Her voice,” which “remains eternal,” per the AP.
“Her legacy will live forever,” she added in her speech.
According to the publication, the crowd verbally expressed their disappointment when it was revealed that Cher, 79, wasn’t in attendance. However, she accepted the award in a brief video.
“The only thing I ever wanted to be was a singer. When I was 4 years old I used to run around the house naked, singing into a hair brush,” said Cher, per the AP. “Things haven’t changed all that much.”
Carlos’ award was accepted by his son Salvador Santana, but he also shared a video message to mark the honor.
“The world is so infected with fear that we need the music and message of Santana to bring hope, courage and joy to heal the world,” he said, according to the AP.
Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s longtime lyricist who received the Grammys Trustees Award that night, paid tribute to Simon, 84, calling him “the greatest American songwriter alive,” per the outlet.
Despite not attending the Grammys Special Merit Awards, Cher made a memorable appearance at the 2026 Grammys, where she experienced a lighthearted snafu while being honored with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The “Strong Enough” performer didn’t attend the ceremony the night prior, so they presented it to her at the awards show on Feb. 1, which caused a bit of confusion.
Emma McIntyre/Getty
After receiving the honor at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, she returned to the stage to present Record of the Year, where she appeared momentarily flustered.
The “Believe” hitmaker initially read out “Luther Vandross” — the late singer whose work inspired the winning track — before quickly correcting herself and naming the actual winners, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, for their song “Luther.”
“And the Grammy goes to… Oh! They told me it was going to be on a prompter,” she said at the time. “Oh, the Grammy goes to Luther Vandross. Oh Kendrick, no Kendrick Lamar!”
