Music executive Sylvia Rhone is set to receive the “Ultimate Icon” honor at the 2026 BET Awards. Multiple outlets report that BET will present the award during the ceremony on Sunday, June 28, airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show is scheduled to take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and will air on BET, with the event broadcast from the theater venue.
BET programming head Connie Orlando is cited describing Rhone’s leadership and impact, saying she champions artists and executives, helps break barriers, and influences how leadership is defined for women and people of color across industries. Other reporting also notes Rhone’s career achievements, including her status as the first woman to lead a major music company.
Billboard further reports that Rhone received a trustees award earlier this year from the Recording Academy, adding to the recognition she is drawing ahead of the BET Awards ceremony. The outlets collectively frame the honor as part of a broader pattern of industry acknowledgments for her work in music leadership.
