Overview
- The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced on Sept. 3, 2026 that Genie Francis is the recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Francis released a statement saying she is deeply grateful for the honor and noting that February will mark 50 years since she first played Laura on General Hospital.
- She originated the role in 1977 and the 1981 Laura–Luke wedding episode drew about 30 million viewers, cementing Laura Spencer as a defining figure in daytime TV.
- Francis will accept the award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Oct. 30 in Los Angeles and the ceremony will stream live via the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and The Emmys app.
- Her work spans multiple soaps and TV projects, she won a Daytime Emmy in 2007, and the lifetime honor arrives as retrospectives on her legacy have increased since Anthony Geary’s 2025 death.