With the 2026 Grammy telecast still over four months away, the In Memoriam segment is already shaping up to be notably substantial. This year alone, at least four monumental music legends have passed who could each warrant a dedicated spotlight during the show: Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Sly Stone, and Roberta Flack. All four had previously received lifetime achievement awards from the Recording Academy – Wilson as part of The Beach Boys, and Osbourne with Black Sabbath, indicating their immense impact on music history.

In recent years, the Grammy Awards have adopted a practice of highlighting one or more recently deceased artists with extended tributes, sometimes integrated into the In Memoriam spot, and at other times presented separately. For instance, last year saw a six-song tribute dedicated to Quincy Jones. In 2024, the In Memoriam segment featured extensive tributes to iconic figures such as Tony Bennett, Sinéad O’Connor, Clarence Avant, and Tina Turner. The 2023 ceremony honored Loretta Lynn, Takeoff from Migos, and Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac with special recognition within the segment, a tradition also extended to Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim the year prior. In 2021, Little Richard, Kenny Rogers, John Prine, and Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers received extra attention. A particularly poignant moment in 2020 included Boyz II Men performing “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” in tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant, who tragically died on the morning of the ceremony, while Nipsey Hussle and Dr. John were given extra focus in the In Memoriam spot.

Beyond the four primary legends mentioned, the list of music greats who have passed since the last Grammy telecast on February 2, 2024, continues to grow. This includes songwriter Alan Bergman, who, along with his late wife Marilyn Bergman, received a Trustees Award from the Recording Academy in 2013, an honor equivalent to a lifetime achievement award for behind-the-scenes contributions. The Latin Recording Academy also honored Eddie Palmieri with a lifetime achievement award in 2013 and Lalo Schifrin with a Trustees Award in 2017. Many other noteworthy artists and behind-the-scenes talents have also passed, such as Brett James, Bobby Hart, Jeannie Seely, Flaco Jimenez, Tom Lehrer, Cleo Laine, Chuck Mangione, Connie Francis, Bobby Sherman, Lou Christie, Rick Derringer, Charles Strouse, Johnny Rodriguez, Johnny Tillotson, Angie Stone, Alf Clausen, and Robert John.

The roster of losses also encompasses numerous individuals celebrated for their contributions as part of renowned groups. This includes Rick Davies of Supertramp, Mark Volman of The Turtles, Clem Burke of Blondie, Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods, David Johansen of New York Dolls, Chris Jasper of The Isley Brothers, Brent Hinds of Mastodon, Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos, Walter Scott Jr. of The Whispers, Mick Ralphs of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr, Michael Sumler of Kool & the Gang, D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone!, and Les Binks of Judas Priest.

Award show producers frequently face criticism for perceived omissions from the In Memoriam roll. This challenge is inherent given the sheer number of significant individuals who pass away annually and the strict time constraints of a live telecast. Accommodating everyone could extend the segment to an impractical length, leading to different criticisms. As the 68th annual Grammy Awards on February 1 approaches, speculation is rife regarding who will receive extra recognition. Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, and Sly Stone appear to be strong candidates for special tributes. There is also a compelling case for Roberta Flack not to be overlooked, especially considering her passing occurred relatively close to last year’s show (February 24) and her historical achievement in 1974 as the first artist to win back-to-back Record of the Year awards. Flack was honored with a performance of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by Andra Day at the BET Awards on June 9, where Brittney Spencer also paid tribute to Angie Stone. Additionally, Ozzy Osbourne was honored with a three-song tribute by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Nuno Bennencourt at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7, underscoring his enduring legacy.