Chaka Khan is set to receive the Classic Soul Honor at the 2026 Soul Train Awards, adding another major recognition to a career that has helped shape soul, funk and R&B music for more than five decades.
BET announced the honor on October 22, celebrating the legendary singer’s lasting influence on music and generations of performers who have followed in her footsteps. The award recognizes artists whose contributions have played a defining role in the development of soul and R&B.
Born Yvette Stevens in Chicago, Khan first rose to prominence as the lead singer of funk band Rufus in the 1970s. Songs such as “Tell Me Something Good” and “Sweet Thing” helped establish her as a distinctive voice in American music before she launched a successful solo career.
Her solo catalogue produced some of R&B’s most enduring records, including “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nobody” and “I Feel for You.” Known for her powerful vocals and ability to move between soul, funk, pop and R&B, Khan has remained an influential figure across generations.
The recognition adds to an already significant year for the singer. Khan, a recipient of 11 Grammy Awards, received the Recording Academy’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026. She was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 with the Musical Excellence Award.
Khan continues to release music, with her latest album, CHAKZILLA, featuring collaborations with Sia, Snoop Dogg, Lenny Kravitz and producer-songwriter Greg Kurstin. The project reflects her continued willingness to explore new sounds while maintaining the vocal identity that has defined her career.
BET President Louis Carr described Khan as “the embodiment of soul music,” highlighting her groundbreaking work with Rufus and a solo catalogue that has inspired generations of artists.
The 2026 Soul Train Awards will air on Friday, November 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson is set to host the ceremony, which returns to television with a celebration of the artists and cultural contributions that have shaped soul and R&B.
With the Classic Soul Honor, the ceremony will recognize not just Khan’s catalogue of hits, but the lasting mark she has made on the sound and direction of popular music.
