Mariah Carey is getting one of the biggest honors in music culture and the lineup celebrating her might just break the internet. The Recording Academy’s MusiCares charity has named the five-time Grammy winner its 2026 Person of the Year, and the tribute gala on January 30, 2026 promises to be a must-watch moment during Grammy Week in Los Angeles.
This is more than just another red carpet moment. MusiCares Person of the Year is a decades-old tradition that honors artists both for their musical impact and their humanitarian work. Carey joins a storied list that spans legends from Smokey Robinson to Joni Mitchell, highlighting her voice not just as an artist but as a cultural force shaping how we all hear and feel music.
What makes this tribute particularly epic is the roster of performers ready to honor the Songbird Supreme. Expect everyone from soulful powerhouses to genre-bending stars stepping up to reinterpret some of Carey’s biggest hits. Confirmed performers include Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Adam Lambert, Teddy Swims, Kesha, Maggie Rogers, Charlie Puth, Laufey, Billy Porter, Taylor Momsen, and Foo Fighters, with a DJ set by Grammy-winning producer Jermaine Dupri to kick things off.
This lineup reads like a full-spectrum playlist where pop, rock, R&B, and indie voices collide in celebration. The variety shows how far Mariah’s influence reaches, from jaw-dropping vocal gymnastics to melodic hooks that have become DNA in pop culture.
Carey’s career is nothing short of iconic. She helped define modern pop and R&B, with towering hits like “Vision of Love” and the eternal holiday anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” But beyond the music she also has a track record of philanthropy and community work, which is a core reason MusiCares chose her for this honor.
This event is also a reminder that Mariah’s magic doesn’t fade with time. At 56 she’s still celebrated by new generations who might know her first from TikTok remixes of her whistle notes or from the way her songs soundtrack emotional moments.
Expect the tribute to be a masterclass in musical reverence, viral moments, and generational crossover energy. This Grammy Week, Mariah Carey isn’t just being honored. She’s being celebrated by the whole industry.
