Some voices don’t just soundtrack generations, they help define them. Others remind us why R&B still has room to surprise us. This November, the Soul Train Awards is celebrating both sides of that legacy, announcing Chaka Khan and Durand Bernarr as its latest honorees.

The legendary Chaka Khan will receive the Classic Soul Honor, recognising more than five decades of musical influence. With 11 Grammy Awards, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and timeless records like “Ain’t Nobody,” “I’m Every Woman” and “Through the Fire,” Khan’s contribution to soul, funk and R&B is practically a cultural inheritance. She’s not just part of the soundtrack. She’s helped write it.

Meanwhile, Grammy-winning vocalist Durand Bernarr will receive the Soul Personified Honor, celebrating his vocal versatility, electrifying stage presence and commitment to artistic independence. Fresh off his Grammy win for BLOOM, Bernarr is also set to perform at the ceremony and host its digital red carpet show.

The 2026 Soul Train Awards will air November 27 on BET and CBS, with Anthony Anderson hosting. From a certified legend to one of R&B’s most exciting contemporary voices, this is what passing the microphone across generations should look like. Soul, after all, never goes out of style.