Lauryn Hill to Perform Tribute to Roberta Flack at the Grammy Awards

2026-01-30 - 15:07

Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and Fugees frontwoman Lauryn Hill is set to take the stage during the In Memoriamsegment of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, where she will honor the legacy of the late Roberta Flack. The Recording Academy confirmed Hill’s participation ahead of the ceremony, which will be held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Hill’s inclusion has sparked conversation among fans, given her long-standing reputation for late arrivals and canceled performances, a topic that has become something of a running joke in popular culture. Even so, the Academy’s decision carries clear artistic and historical significance when viewed through the lens of Hill’s musical journey. Roberta Flack played a pivotal role in the rise of Hill’s career. While a member of the Fugees, Hill helped reintroduce Flack’s Killing Me Softly With His Song to a new generation. The group’s reinterpretation became the breakout single from their landmark album The Score, transforming Flack’s gentle, introspective classic into a global hit and firmly establishing Hill as a singular vocal and creative force. Hill’s artistry was also shaped by collaborations with neo-soul contemporaries, including D’Angelo, whose musicianship influenced a generation of artists during the genre’s emergence. Their duet Nothing Even Matters from Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the album’s most celebrated tracks, showcasing a rare musical synergy and reinforcing Hill’s place among the era’s most respected talents. That album would go on to make history, with Hill becoming the first Black woman and hip-hop artist to win Album of the Year. This year’s Grammy ceremony continues to highlight Black excellence across genres. Nominees include SZA, Clipse, Doechii, and Leon Thomas. The Recording Academy has also confirmed that all Best New Artist nominees will perform during the broadcast, with Thomas standing out as one of the youngest Black artists to grace the Grammy stage this year. Hill’s tribute is expected to be one of the evening’s most emotionally resonant moments, linking generations of Black musical innovation while honoring Roberta Flack’s enduring influence on soul, R&B, and popular music.