Reba McEntire is taking on one of the toughest performances of the night. The country icon has been chosen to lead the 2026 Grammys' annual "In Memoriam" tribute, joined by Lukas Nelson and Brandy Clark for a performance that will honor the artists the music world has lost over the past year. It's a role that calls for more than just a great voice—it requires heart, grace, and the ability to capture emotions that words often can't.

Reba McEntire To Lead Emotional “In Memoriam” Tribute At The 2026 Grammys, Joined By Lukas Nelson & Brandy Clark

Reba McEntire, Lukas Nelson, and Brandy Clark will perform for the “In Memoriam” tribute during the 2026 Grammy Awards taking place on Sunday, February 1. (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images)

Reba To Lead Memoriam Tribute During The 2026 Grammy Awards

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will air this Sunday, February 1, and ahead of the show, the Recording Academy has shared several details on what viewers can expect throughout the night.

One special moment will be the “In Memoriam” tribute, which honors those in the music and entertainment world who passed away over the last year.

On Wednesday, January 28, it was announced that Reba McEntire will be leading the tribute.

She won’t be doing it alone, though. Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will join her to help honor “the friends we lost along the way.”

While McEntire, Clark, and Nelson will be part of the main tribute, the night will also feature two additional performances honoring music legends who are no longer with us.

One of those will see Post Malone take the Grammy stage with Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt for a tribute to late Rock n’ Roll icon Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 22.

Additionally, Lauryn Hill will take the stage to honor the late singer and pianist Roberta Flack, as well as multi-instrumentalist and singer D’Angelo.

Who Are All Of The Country Artist’s Nominated For A Grammy This Year?

This year, country fans will see plenty of their favorite artists in the mix for awards, including some first-time nominees.

The Recording Academy has also added new country-specific categories, splitting the longtime Best Country Album award into two. For the first time, there will be separate awards for Best Traditional Country Album and Best Contemporary Country Album.

Best Traditional Country Album nominees include:

Dollar A Day – Charley Crockett
American Romance – Lukas Nelson
Oh What a Beautiful World – Willie Nelson
Hard Headed Woman – Margo Price
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top (First-Time Nominee)

Those nominated in the Best Contemporary Country Album category are:

Patterns – Kelsea Ballerini
Snipe Hunter – Tyler Childers
Evangeline vs. the Machine – Eric Church
Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert

For a full list of country artists nominated at the 2026 Grammy Awards, click here.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 7 PM CST. You can stream the broadcast on Paramount+.