Music

Missy Elliott to Be Honored as Visionary Icon at Culture Creators Awards Brunch

Missy Elliott will receive the Visionary Icon honor at the Culture Creators Awards Brunch, presented by Amazon Music and the Culture Creators Foundation.

Rolling Stone·Jun 23, 2026·via Rolling Stone

Missy Elliott to Be Honored as Visionary Icon at Culture Creators Awards Brunch

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Missy Elliott to Receive Visionary Icon Honor at Culture Creators Awards Brunch

The award will be presented by Amazon Music and the Culture Creators Foundation

By Malik Davis

Malik Davis

Contact Malik Davis by Email

June 23, 2026

Grammy award-winning femcee and producer Missy Elliott is set to receive the Amazon Music Visionary Icon Award at the Culture Creators Innovators & Leaders 10th annual awards brunch on Friday, June 26, 2026.

The honor will be presented by the Culture Creators Foundation and Amazon Music at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Up-and-coming R&B artist JayDon will take the stage to deliver a special tribute performance in honor of Elliott’s legacy and impact on the music industry.

“For the past ten years, Culture Creators has sustained, elevated, and celebrated the people in front of and behind the scenes who move culture forward,” states Culture Creators founder and CEO Joi Brown, who worked alongside Missy during her time at Atlantic Records. “Missy Elliott is the definition of an icon, and her impact continues to inspire artists, executives, creators, and fans across the globe.”

“Amazon Music is incredibly proud to come together with the Culture Creators Foundation to present the Visionary Icon Award to Missy Elliott,” adds Phylicia Fant, Global Director, BlackMusic and Culture at Amazon Music.

Missy will be among additional honorees including Critics Choice Award winner Janelle James (Film/TV Award), entertainment executive Suzanne de Passe (Icon Award — Film/TV/Music), Comedian Druski (Innovator of the Year), fashion icon Bethann Hardison (Icon Award — Fashion), Grammy Award-winning producer Jermaine Dupri (Icon Award — Music), Emmy Award winning broadcaster Andrew Hawkins (Sports Award) and media trailblazer Jason Lee (Trailblazer Award).

Hosted by Xmayo, the brunch and day’s programming includes a beauty and gifting suite, a curated photo exhibition chronicling a decade of Culture Creators’ history, and the public launch of The Next 10 — Culture Creators’ forward-looking platform strategy.

The annual event will serve as a fundraiser for the Culture Creators Foundation’s HBCU+ Scholarship Fund, which provides mentorships, career access opportunities, and more for students pursuing careers in media, entertainment, technology, and culture