Music

Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan have been named recipients of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award. They’ll be honored at the 2026 Special Merit Awards, taking place Jan. 31 in Los Angeles.

Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Cher are also set to receive the award, which goes to “performers who, during their lifetime, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording,” according to a press release. 

The Trustees Award will go to Bernie Taupin, Latin musician Eddie Palmieri and record exec Sylvia Rhone for the “significant contributions” they’ve made “to the field of recording,” the press release states.

“It’s a true honor to recognize this year’s Special Merit Award recipients — an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres and the very foundation of modern music,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement. “Each of these honorees has made a profound and lasting impact, and we look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements on the eve of Grammy Sunday.”

The Grammy Awards are scheduled for Feb. 1.

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The Recording Academy has announced the honorees for their 2026 Special Merit Awards Ceremony, and Carlos Santana and Paul Simon have been chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honor goes to “performers who, during their lifetime, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording,” according to a press release. Other 2026 honorees include Cher, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan and Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti.

Elton John’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin is also set to be feted with the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award, given to “individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording,” the press release states. Latin musician Eddie Palmieri and record exec Sylvia Rhone are also set to receive the award.

“It’s a true honor to recognize this year’s Special Merit Award recipients — an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres and the very foundation of modern music,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement. “Each of these honorees has made a profound and lasting impact, and we look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements on the eve of Grammy Sunday.”

The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony will take place during Grammy week, on Jan. 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. The Grammy Awards are set for Feb. 1.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Recording Academy has announced the honorees for their 2026 Special Merit Awards Ceremony, with Cher, Carlos Santana and Paul Simon chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lifetime Achievement honor goes to “performers who, during their lifetime, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording,” according to a press release. Other 2026 honorees include Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan and Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti.

Elton John’s songwriting partner Bernie Taupin is also set to be feted with the Recording Academy’s Trustees Award, given to “individuals who, during their careers in music, have made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording,” the press release states. Latin musician Eddie Palmieri and record exec Sylvia Rhone are also set to receive the award.

“It’s a true honor to recognize this year’s Special Merit Award recipients — an extraordinary group whose influence spans generations, genres and the very foundation of modern music,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement. “Each of these honorees has made a profound and lasting impact, and we look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements on the eve of Grammy Sunday.”

The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony will take place during Grammy week, on Jan. 31 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. The Grammy Awards are set for Feb. 1.

Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jelly Roll has been granted a pardon from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for previous convictions for robbery and drug-related crimes that date back to 2003.

The country singer, whose real name is Jason DeFord, received the official pardon on Thursday.

He was one of 33 that were pardoned in the state.

Jelly Roll, who is known for his hit songs “I Am Not Okay” and “Need a Favor,” has previously spoken openly about his past incarceration.

He told Joe Rogan in 2023 that he spent time off and on in jail from ages 14 to 25.

“At 16, I was charged as an adult for a charge,” he said on Rogan’s podcast in 2023. “It was a heinous crime, admittedly. It was horrible. We robbed a couple of guys for some weed, but they called the police because we took some money and some stuff. It was an armed robbery, we went in there with a gun, I regret it every day of my life.”

He added that he was a kid when it happened, but said that he still feels “horrible about it.”

As a result, Jelly Roll said that his conviction has affected aspects of his life, including his ability to travel.

The singer told the Tennessee Board of Parole in April a pardon would make it easier for him to travel and perform in other countries.

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Wyn Starks, the former America’s Got Talent contestant best known for his song “Who I Am,” has a holiday hit on his hands with his upbeat cover of “Pure Imagination,” from the classic film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. While it’s not generally considered a Christmas song, other artists have recorded it as one, so Wyn figured he’d put his own spin on it.

“I have such fond memories of the song, you know, watching Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory when I was a kid,” he tells ABC Audio. “For some reason, it always … gave me that holiday feel. And I’ve seen people do it before, like, they did more of a holiday rendition. I was like, ‘That would be a really cool approach,’ but approaching it in my way … something that could be for the holiday, but also be for any time.”

Wyn’s rendition is unique because it starts out slow and then becomes super-fast and jazzy. Wyn says the arrangement was his producer’s idea, and he loved it.

“It ended up turning out so beautifully,” he says. “I was just so happy to be able to share it especially because it brings back such nostalgia for me, the song.”

Wyn recalls “beautiful” Christmases of his childhood, which included watching Willy Wonka with his twin brother who, sadly, died five years ago.

“We always watched [the movie] during the holidays, even though it’s not a holiday movie. And that’s how I want the song to feel to people,” he explains, adding, “It feels very holiday-ish, because of the fantastical feeling you get hearing it.” 

Wyn is planning to release a new album in early 2026.

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For the 2025 holiday, fans are sharing a special moment between Dylan Scott and his dad, Scotty Robinson. 

Dylan recorded “Two Christmas Trees,” an emotional song about a little boy navigating the season going between two households. 

“My dad wrote it in the ’80s, so I’ve heard it my whole life,” Dylan tells ABC Audio. “Fortunately, I did not grow up in that situation that the song’s talking about, but a lot of families have. It’s very real.”

“And we had to do a Christmas song this year, and I thought, well, if I’m gonna do one, I’m gonna do it for my dad. Something cool, something special,” he adds.

Fans got to see the moment Dylan played “Two Christmas Trees” for his dad thanks to social media.

“I said, ‘I’m gonna play this song for him and surprise him, but you’re not gonna get the emotional dad, you’re gonna get the dad that I’ve always had, the constructive criticism dad, “Hey you’re playing too hard” or “you’re singing too hard,”‘” Dylan explains. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way, because I mean, you don’t need a yes person in your life, you never get better with that, right? You’ve gotta have the guy that’s like, ‘Hey son, do it this way, do it like this.’ And so, yeah, he did the exact same thing I thought he would.”  

Dylan’s 8-year-old son, Beckett Robinson, sings on the track as well. 

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Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” has landed on yet another year-end roundup, recently earning a spot on former President Barack Obama’s Favorite Music of 2025 list.

The song appears on his latest annual playlist, which also includes Olivia Dean’s “Nice to Each Other,” Burna Boy’s “TaTaTa” featuring Travis Scott, Gunna’s “Just Say Dat,” Chance the Rapper and Jamila Woods’ “No More Old Men,” Drake’s “Nokia” and Olamide‘s “99” featuring Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake and Young John.

Obama also shared his favorite books and films of 2025. Among the movie selections were One Battle After Another, starring Teyana Taylor, and Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan.

“As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music,” Obama wrote on his socials. “I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out!”

All lists can be found on his Instagram and Facebook.

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You know you’re really friends with someone when you get matching tattoos — and new BFFs Alex Warren and Myles Smith have officially taken that huge step.

Myles posted photos on Instagram showing off the new ink: He has “Pookie” tatted on his forearm, while Alex appears to have the same word on his bicep. “Pookie” is what the two call each other, and the tattoos came in commemoration the past few weeks, during which they both played multiple concerts together.

“So much laughter, so little sleep, and somehow still finding moments that will stay with me forever,” Myles wrote on Instagram. “And yes, Alex and I got matching ‘pookie’ tattoos because apparently we needed something permanent to mark the chaos and love of it all.”

So how did the nickname “Pookie” start in the first place? Alex told ABC Audio, “I started calling him ‘Pookie’ first, and I think now it’s just become this thing.”

“He heard me call [my wife] Kouvr it, and then he was like, ‘Oh, I have to start that,'” Alex added. 

Both Alex and Myles have major tours planned for 2026. Reflecting on the recent run of shows, Myles wrote on Instagram to his fans, “I don’t take a single face in the crowd for granted. Thank you for trusting me with your stories, your time, your energy. Thank you for letting these songs belong to us together. Thank you for being patient, kind, and so wildly present.”

“I’m going to rest, breathe, and soak this all in before we do it again,” he continued. “I already miss you.”

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