All-Star ‘GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends’ Celebrates 2020 Honorees (VIDEO)

The Recording Academy^® will honor its 2020 Special Merit Awards recipients with Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends, an awards ceremony and tribute concert hosted by Jimmy Jam airs Friday, October 16 on PBS.

2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Photo from Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images/Courtesy of PBS

Performers include Laurie Anderson, Philip Bailey, Brandi Carlile, Cynthia Erivo, Chris Isaak, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Cyndi Lauper, Sam Moore, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Yola.

Presenters include Rhiannon Giddens, Joe Mantegna, John Legend, LL COOL J, Greg Phillinganes, Henry Rollins, and Don Was.

Photo from Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

This is the fifth year the Recording Academy has celebrated the Special Merit Awards with a stand-alone TV event and musical tribute, but the first year that it has been produced without an audience and in different locations due to COVID-19’s impact on live events.

In addition to the tribute concert, the special will feature archival video packages celebrating each of the honorees’ contributions to the music industry and its cultural heritage.

Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends , Friday, October 16, 9/8c, PBS (Check your local listings)