The legendary singer/songwriter and producer Lauryn Hill will receive the Living Legend Icon Award at the "BET Awards" 2026.

Culture's Biggest Night will broadcast live on June 28 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Druski as host.

The Living Legend Icon Award honors the pioneers who mastered their craft and never let go of the culture. This distinction belongs to the artists and creators whose body of work has remained essential not because the culture held on to them, but because they never stopped holding on to it.

A singular voice across hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae, Lauryn Hill first captured the world's attention as a member of The Fugees, whose 1996 album The Score topped the charts and turned songs like "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not" into generational anthems.

In 1998, she stepped forward with her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, an intimate, genre-defying body of work exploring love, faith, motherhood, self-worth, and Black womanhood that was immediately recognized as a masterpiece and went on to sell more than ten million copies.

The album reshaped the industry's understanding of what hip-hop and soul could be, and its influence has only deepened with time. Decades later, her catalog still feels like the present tense, studied, sampled, and sung back word for word, and claimed as inspiration by generation after generation of artists.

From sold-out stages around the world to her continued work as a performer entirely on her own terms, Lauryn Hill remains one of the most singular and enduring forces in music.

"Ms. Lauryn Hill is the very definition of a living legend," said Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET. "Across every era, she has never chased the moment; she has shaped it. Her artistry redefined what was possible in our music and gave a generation permission to be fearless, spiritual, and free. Her influence is woven into the fabric of the culture, and it is a profound honor to celebrate her legacy on Culture's Biggest Night."

Don't miss the "BET Awards" June 28, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Additional honorees, performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced. For the latest news, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET across social platforms.

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP:

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, is the world's largest media company rooted in community, culture, and connection for the Black community. For over four decades, BET has served as a trusted home for Black audiences, amplifying authentic stories, elevating Black voices, and creating spaces where culture thrives and community comes together.

Through a powerful portfolio of brands, including BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1, along with FAST channels such as BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, BET Classics, BET Visionaries, BET Throwbacks, and BET
Pluto, BET connects audiences across cable, digital, live events, studios, and global platforms.

Together, these platforms deliver culturally resonant content that reflects the depth, creativity, and impact of the Black experience.

For more information visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For additional announcements, visit paramountpressexpress.com/bet/.

ABOUT BET AWARDS:

"BET Awards" is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television, according to the Nielsen Company. The "BET Awards" franchise remains the No. 1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is the No.1 telecast for BET every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

ABOUT BET EXPERIENCE:

BET Experience is the destination for elevating unapologetic Blackness with authentic entertainment, access, and lifestyle experiences. Through the lens of millennial and Gen Z audiences, BET Experience curates the culture, standing at the intersection of who this coveted segment is and where they're headed.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT:

Founded in 2012, Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service Emmy winning production company that has played an integral role in producing many of television's most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE's award-winning and critically acclaimed television includes programming from its four divisions - specials, sports, scripted and unscripted.

From the specials division: award shows, The Emmy Awards, iHeart Radio Music Awards, The 2021 and 2022 American Music Awards, The 2022 Golden Globes, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF's An Evening of Stars and ABFF Honors; specials - "Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," "The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey" (Primetime Emmy Award nominee), "Grace For The World: Live from St. Peters Square," "A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop," "Lil Rel Howery: I said it. Y'all thinking it.," "CNN's Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom," "Martin: The Reunion," "John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero," "Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration," "Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today," "A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change," "Stand Up for Heroes," "Dear Mama," "Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin'," "Def Comedy Jam 25," "Leslie Jones: Life Part 2," "Leslie Jones: Time Machine," "The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular" and "Rip the Runway."

From the sports division: "Beyonce Bowl at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans NFL 2024 Christmas Game" (Primetime Emmy Award winner), "The Super Bowl Halftime Show" (Primetime Emmy Award winner), "The 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game Pre-Game Show," "The 2025 World Series Game 1 Anthem," "NFL Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show" starring Jack White and Netflix's "Snoop's Holiday Halftime Party."

From the scripted division: Scripted series - "Real Husbands of Hollywood," "American Soul" and miniseries - "The New Edition Story" and "The Bobby Brown Story." From the unscripted division: unscripted series - "Heart & Hustle: Houston," "Tia Mowry: My Next Act," "Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50," "Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans," "Cardi Tries," "My Killer Body with K. Michelle," "DJ Cassidy's Pass the Mic" and "Forward: The Future of Black Music," competition series - "Hollywood Squares," "Rhythm + Flow," "Celebrity Squares," "Becoming A Popstar," "Sunday Best," "Hip Hop Squares" and "Nashville Squares," talk shows - "We Got Time Today," "Yara Shahidi's Day Off" and "Face to Face with Becky G," and children's series - "Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices" (Daytime Emmy Award winner). Emmy Award winner Jesse Collins is the Founder & CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment and executive producer of all JCE programming.

He is also an executive producer for the annual Grammy Awards and produced the 2021 Oscars. Emmy winner Dionne Harmon is President. Emmy nominee Jeannae Rouzan-Clay is Senior Vice President of Specials.

Editor's Note: Information used in this report provided by BET publicity.