Chaka Khan, Kelly Rowland Among Honorees at 2026 Black Women in Music Event

The second annual Black Women in Music event took place on Friday, June 12, at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles. The event was billed as an evening dedicated to celebrating Black women who preserve and protect the music industry.

This year's honorees included notable figures such as singers Chaka Khan and Kelly Rowland, choreographer Fatima Robinson, music executive Natina Nimene, Billboard's Gail Mitchell, and Gender Amplified's Ebonie Smith.

Connie Orlando, executive vp of specials, music programming, and music strategy at BET, spearheaded the event. The Connie Orlando Foundation served as the executive producer. Orlando expressed that the gathering was a "living answer to a prayer," emphasizing the importance of mutual support, protecting presence, and building a legacy. She highlighted the challenges Black women face, including laboring as a backbone while their well-being is often overlooked, and living in a climate that seeks to minimize their power.

Orlando also noted the event's commitment to fighting breast cancer, a battle disproportionately affecting Black women due to systemic inequalities leading to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment. The Orlando Foundation is spiritually committed to education, prevention, and early detection, with a vision for a world free from breast cancer.

The event featured performances by singers Chanté Moore and David Michael Wyatt, and violinist Yuli, and was hosted by comedian Zainab Johnson. An all-Black women-led creative and production team brought the event to life, including producer Perri Camper Rivers, creative director Gabrielle Glore, and Wright Productions for event design and production.

Key partners for the event included founding partner Harbour/View, prestige partner Amazon Music, and contributing partners such as Atlantic, BET Media Group, CMG The Label, Jesse Collins Entertainment, TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment), OWN, and Universal Music Group.

According to Billboard, the event recognized individuals for their impact and dedication to global culture.