With the 2026 Grammy Awards airing on Sunday, the event will honor and celebrate those who continue to make strides in the music industry. Looking at some of the top nominees, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Bad Bunny all have a chance to win Record of the Year. That’s just in one category. But aside from the special performances and accolades, the Grammys will honor those icons who sadly perished in 2025. And when needing a few stars to highlight their legacies, the Grammys turned to top names like Reba McEntire, Post Malone, Lukas Nelson, Slash, and more.
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On Sunday, February 1, the 2026 Grammy Awards will kick off at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Hosting the event, comedian Trevor Noah is sure to have a little fun with his opening monologue. Especially given the last year brought more than a few headlines surrounding Taylor Swift, AI, Bruce Springsteen, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and Bad Bunny. But when it came to the In Memoriam Tribute, the Grammys will highlight Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack, and D’Angelo.
Given the global success of Ozzy, the Grammys are prepared to turn the stage into a heavy metal concert as Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, and Duff McKagan will offer an unforgettable performance covering a few of the singer’s hit songs.
Grammys Welcome All Genres To Honor Lost Icons
Just last summer, groups like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica jumped at the chance to be part of the Back to the Beginning concert. Marking Ozzy’s last performance with Black Sabbath, it was also the icon’s final performance of his life. Passing away only a few weeks later, countless musicians, singers, and celebrities offered touching tributes. And among them was Slash. Already performing at the Back to the Beginning concert, the guitarist will add his name to the Grammys’ In Memoriam tribute.
While paying their respects to the Prince of Darkness, Lauryn Hill will team up with D’Angelo to shine a light on the lasting career of Flack. Also in the lineup will be Brandy Clark, Reba, and Nelson.
With only a few days to go before one of the biggest nights in music kicks off, don’t miss the 2026 Grammy Awards, airing live on February 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+.
(Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)
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