On Tuesday (6.09,) it was announced that Teyana Taylor would be the Icon of the Year at the upcoming 2026 BET Awards, stating:
“Teyana Taylor is the embodiment of what it means to be an icon in this moment.” “She doesn’t ask for a seat at the table; she builds the table, designs the rooms, and sets the tone for everyone who walks in. Her fingerprints are all over culture, and it is an honour to celebrate everything she represents on Culture’s Biggest Night.”
Joining prior winners, Mariah Carey, Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx, the BET Icon of the Year award celebrates the artist who is “defining this moment”.
In the music space, Taylor broke out with her 2014 debut, VII, and released her latest studio album, Escape Room, in 2025.
In the acting space, the 35-year old earned her first-ever Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in One Battle After Another, and recently starred in Hulu’s All’s Fair and the Netflix film The Rip.
In celebration of Black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy, the BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network.
This year’s ceremony, hosted by Druski, will take place on Sunday 28 June at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Keep up with the latest trending music news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Author: Saul Goode
Photo: VOA – Public Domain