Armenian-American icon Cher will receive the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, headlining this year’s Special Merit Award recipients in recognition of her unparalleled impact on music, pop culture, fashion, television, and film. The honor will be presented during the Special Merit Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, one day before the 68th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena.
Cher, born Cheryl Sarkisian, is an Armenian-American singer and actress widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern entertainment. Known as the “Goddess of Pop,” she is celebrated for her distinctive contralto voice, fearless fashion choices, and bold visual identity. Her career spans music, film, television, and fashion, where her influence extends far beyond chart success or awards alone. Through constant reinvention and a refusal to conform to industry expectations, Cher has remained culturally relevant across generations.
Now 79, Cher is being recognized 60 years after her first Grammy nomination, which came as part of Sonny & Cher for Best New Artist. She is the only artist in history to score No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in six consecutive decades. An Oscar, Grammy, Primetime Emmy, and Golden Globe winner whose influence has shaped global pop culture, she has sold more than 200 million records worldwide.
Cher first rose to fame with the Billboard Hot 100-topping hit “I Got You Babe,” before establishing herself as a solo superstar with classics including “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves,” “Half-Breed,” “Dark Lady,” and “If I Could Turn Back Time.” She has earned four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles overall. She later redefined herself with the dance-pop anthem “Believe,” a Grammy-winning track that was also nominated for Record of the Year, cementing her status as a cross-generational dance-pop innovator.
Beyond music, Cher became a television icon with “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and “Cher,” and earned critical acclaim as an actress in “Silkwood,” “Mask,” and “Moonstruck,” the latter winning her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her world tours and Las Vegas residency have drawn millions of fans. She received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. A living testament to reinvention, resilience, and authenticity, she remains one of the most influential and enduring figures in entertainment history.
Alongside Cher, the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, and Paul Simon. The Recording Academy also announced additional Special Merit honorees. Bernie Taupin, Eddie Palmieri, and Sylvia Rhone will receive Trustees Awards, while John Chowning will be honored with a Technical Grammy Award.
The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. The honor is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes specific recordings, and the Trustees Award, which honors non-performers. Established in 1962, the first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in 1963. Technical Grammy Awards honor exceptional technical innovation in recording, recognizing individuals and organizations that have shaped the sound and structure of modern music.
