Sylvia Rhone Named 2026 BET Awards Ultimate Icon

BET says the honor recognizes Rhone’s barrier‑breaking leadership that expanded executive opportunities for women and Black professionals.

Overview

BET announced on June 11 that Sylvia Rhone will receive the Ultimate Icon award at the BET Awards telecast on June 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Rhone rose from an assistant role to become the first woman and first Black woman to lead a major record label and held senior posts at Elektra, Universal Motown, Atlantic and Epic.
She stepped down from her role at Epic in 2025 after a decades‑long career guiding artists and shaping label strategy.
BET confirmed comedian Druski will host the show and reiterated that Teyana Taylor will receive Icon of the Year, with additional honorees and performers to be announced ahead of the broadcast.
The award highlights Rhone’s record of mentoring artists and executives and signals broader industry recognition of efforts to expand leadership pathways for women and people of color.