The Recording Academy held its third-ever Grammy Hall of Fame Gala at the Beverly Hilton Friday night, honoring iconic albums including Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain, Heart’s Dreamboat Annie, Radiohead’s OK Computer and 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me among others, while George Clinton, Heart and Norah Jones were all among the evening’s performers.
Teddy Swims and Josh Groban performed in honor of Warner Records, which was selected as this year’s record label honoree for the event.
Jackson, inducted by Rhythm Nation 1814 producer Jimmy Jam, took to the podium Friday night for the honor, calling her landmark album “a movement of people of all ages and backgrounds seeking to give and receive love free of judgment.”
“It’s beautiful to relive the memories attached to this project that’s so precious to me tonight,” Jackson said. “I don’t see Rhythm Nation as a phenomenon that lives in the past; I believe it’s alive and well in 2026. Rhythm Nation still resonates on a deep and profound level. It’s an ongoing force that fights bigotry and promotes understanding. It cannot be stopped, it’s simply too strong and too positive.”
Elsewhere Friday night, Erykah Badu took the stage alongside Clinton to perform the Maggot Brain classic “Can You Get to That,” with Badu subsequently telling Clinton that he created “something that never existed before” with his seminal funk rock, a message that seemed to get a co-sign from Flavor Flav, who let out one of his iconic “yeah boyeee” shouts from the audience as the crowd burst out into laughter and cheers.
Overall, 14 records were officially inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame last night: 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me, Selena’s Amor Prohibido, Lucinda Williams‘ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Heart’s Dreamboat Annie The Soul Stirrers’ Jesus Gave Me Water,” Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidananda, Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain, Radiohead’s OK Computer, The Rouse Brothers’ “Orange Blossom Special”; Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full, Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, Bertha Chippie” Hill’s “Trouble In Mind” and Ella Jenkins’ You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song.
Take 6 gave the first performance of the night with “Jesus Gave Me Water,” while Taylor Hanson followed with a solo performance of “Pink Moon.” Heart had a three-song run that included “Magic Man,” “Dreamboat Annie” and “Crazy on You.”
Lucinda Williams played “Can’t Let Go” and “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road,” telling the crowd after that she recalled when the industry had trouble categorizing her between country and rock music. “
Don’t give up when the music falls in the cracks, that’s where it’s supposed to be,” she said. “That’s a good place.”
Norah Jones was honored with the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award Friday night, and in honor of the legend, she performed his songs “Seven Spanish Angels” and “Hallelujah, I Love Her So,” then gave a brief speech about Charles’ lasting legacy in music.
Swims and Groban, both artists signed to Warner Records, went last in honor of Warner’s recognition Friday night, with Swims performing his latest single “Mr. Know It All” and his record-breaking “Lose Control.” Groban, meanwhile, performed Godfather theme “Brucia La Terra” and Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” both of which are featured on Groban’s new album of movie covers, Cinematic.
