Lauryn Hill will perform at the 2026 Grammy Awards honoring late neo-soul pioneer D’Angelo and R&B legend Roberta Flack.
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Lauryn Hill will take the spotlight at the 2026 Grammy Awards, honoring two music legends who shaped her artistic journey.
The Recording Academy announced that Hill will perform at a tribute event on February 1 to honor D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Both artists passed away in 2025, leaving a huge hole in the music industry.
DeAngelo died on October 14 at the age of 51 after battling pancreatic cancer. The Richmond native pioneered neo-soul with Hill in the late 1990s. His seminal albums “Brown Sugar” and “Voodoo” redefined R&B for a new generation.
Roberta Flack died on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. The Grammy-winning frontman has influenced countless artists for five decades with his work on “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Hill’s connection to these two legends is deeply woven into her musical DNA.
She collaborated directly with D’Angelo on “Nothing Even Matters” from the 1998 masterpiece The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The electric piano-driven track showcases their shared neo-soul vision.
D’Angelo sang and played this intimate love song. Their chemistry captures the essence of late ’90s alternative R&B.
Both artists pushed hip-hop and soul into uncharted territory.
In 1996, The Fugees adapted Flack’s iconic hit into a hip-hop song.
Hill’s beautiful singing in Wyclef Jean’s production introduced young audiences to Flack’s artistry. Their version reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Hill performed with Gene and Stevie Wonder at Flacco’s memorial service. She sang “The First Time I Saw Your Face” with raw emotion.
Both D’Angelo and Flack advocated artistic integrity over commercial pressures.
D’Angelo released only three albums in two decades, each to critical acclaim, and Flack’s sophisticated R&B approach set standards that still influence artists today.
The Grammy tribute event will be broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Trevor Noah returns as host for his sixth and final time.
The ceremony airs on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET.
