Lauryn Hill to Perform During 2026 Grammys In Memoriam Segment Honoring D’Angelo & Roberta Flack
Written by b87fm on 01/29/2026
The Recording Academy announced Wednesday (Jan. 28) that Lauryn Hill will headline the In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Grammy Awards, paying tribute to the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack—two artists whose legacies are deeply woven into the fabric of Black music history.
Hill’s selection carries particular weight given her personal and artistic ties to both honorees. She famously collaborated with D’Angelo on “Nothing Even Matters,” a standout track from her Grammy-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Her connection to Roberta Flack is equally iconic: Hill and the Fugees reintroduced Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” to a new generation with their chart-topping rendition on The Score.
The Recording Academy confirmed that D’Angelo’s daughter, Imani, and his brother, Luther, will be in attendance for the ceremony. However, D’Angelo’s son, Michael Archer Jr.—known professionally as Swayvo Twain—said in a statement that he was not invited.
“I want to start by expressing my gratitude to the Recording Academy for honoring my father’s legacy on one of the biggest nights in music,” Archer Jr. said. “Any recognition of his impact and contributions to the culture truly means a lot to my family and me. It would’ve been a pleasure to attend, but unfortunately my siblings and I haven’t received an invitation to be part of this moment celebrating our parents’ lives and work.”
He added, “We remain thankful for the acknowledgement of my father and for the love people continue to show his music and legacy. Our respect for what Pops built will always come first.”
Archer Jr., who lost both parents in 2025, is the son of D’Angelo and Angie Stone. D’Angelo died from pancreatic cancer last October, while Stone was killed in a car accident last March.
In addition to leading the In Memoriam tribute, Hill will also join Post Malone, Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt for a separate performance honoring Ozzy Osbourne.
The Grammys will broadcast live on CBS for the final time at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT and stream on Paramount+. The ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah for the sixth and final time, will feature performances from Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse and Pharrell Williams, as well as Best New Artist nominees Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marias.
