Teyana Taylor Named Icon of the Year for 2026 BET Awards
BET announced on June 9 that Teyana Taylor will receive the Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards, airing live June 28 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The honor recognizes a culture-defining artist whose impact spans music, film, directing, and fashion, with past recipients including Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Usher. The announcement highlights Taylor's rapid crossover ascent, capped by a Golden Globe win, an Oscar nomination, and a Grammy nomination all within the past year.
BET announced on June 9, 2025 that Teyana Taylor, the Harlem-born multi-hyphenate artist, will be honored as Icon of the Year at the 2026 BET Awards ceremony on Sunday, June 28, hosted by comedian Druski at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The award recognizes a culturally defining artist whose creative contributions have broadly shaped entertainment, and Taylor's recent trajectory makes her a fitting recipient: she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Paul Thomas Anderson's film 'One Battle After Another,' while her visual album 'Escape Room' earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Taylor also starred alongside Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the Netflix action thriller 'The Rip' and joined Ryan Murphy's ensemble series 'All's Fair' for Hulu, underscoring her expanding presence in film and television. Her career began in the mid-2000s with early endorsements from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Pharrell Williams, and she released her debut album 'VII' in 2014, building a catalog that includes double-platinum 'Gonna Love Me' and platinum 'Issues/Hold On.' Taylor has previously won BET Awards for Video Director of the Year in 2020 and 2023. BET EVP Connie Orlando described Taylor as someone who 'builds the table' rather than seeking a seat at it, and the show will also honor Lauryn Hill with a Living Legend Award. Additional performers, presenters, and honorees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
What's missing
The articles do not clarify whether 'Escape Room' was nominated for Best R&B Album or Best Rap Album — Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Forbes report R&B, while Rolling Stone states Rap — leaving the Grammy category uncertain.
What different sources said
- VarietyCenter
Teyana Taylor Named Icon of the Year for the 2026 BET Awards
- ForbesCenter
Teyana Taylor To Receive Icon Of The Year Award At 2026 BET Awards
- Rolling StoneLeft
Teyana Taylor Named BET Awards 2026 Icon of the Year
- The Hollywood ReporterCenter
BET Awards: Teyana Taylor to Receive Icon of the Year Honor
Related
David Hockney, Celebrated British Artist, Dies at 88
British artist David Hockney has died at the age of 88, prompting reflection on his prolific career and his final creative years spent in Normandy, France. Known for his iconic California swimming pool paintings, Hockney spent the Covid-19 lockdowns in rural France, producing 220 iPad drawings that were exhibited as a 91-metre-long frieze at the Musée de L'Orangerie in Paris. His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and technically adventurous artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
America at 250: Conservative Voices Debate the State of Higher Education and Shared Culture
Two opinion pieces published ahead of America's 250th anniversary argue that foundational American ideals are under threat — one focusing on the ideological drift of universities away from merit and civic education, the other on the erosion of a common national culture that once bridged class divides. Both pieces are written from a conservative perspective and appear in right-leaning outlets. The arguments reflect a broader debate about what American institutions should preserve or restore as the nation marks a major milestone.
North Melbourne Holds On for One-Point Win Over West Coast as Waterman Hits the Post in Final Seconds
North Melbourne defeated West Coast Eagles 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) at Optus Stadium on Saturday, with Eagles forward Jake Waterman hitting the post from a set shot with 42 seconds remaining. The Kangaroos led by 20 points early in the final quarter before West Coast kicked the last three goals in a dramatic fightback driven by Jobe Shanahan. The result leaves West Coast at 4-10 heading into the bye, while North Melbourne improves to 6-7 and remains in the wildcard race.