On Thursday, producers at BET announced that the iconic awards show will return to TV later this year.
The ceremony will be held in Chicago, the city where Don Cornelius first launched Soul Train more than 50 years ago, with a telecast set to air via BET on 27 November. It will be simulcast on CBS for the first time.
“As a Chicago native, I’m proud to bring the Soul Train Awards back to the city where it all originated,” said BET President Louis Carr. “Coming off a landmark year for BET, this return reaffirms what we do best: bringing our community together around the culture, and connecting the artists who built this sound to the ones carrying it forward.”
Meanwhile, Spotify will serve as the exclusive music streaming partner of the franchise.
“Soul Train has always represented more than music,” noted Spotify’s Kimmy Summers. “It’s been a cultural force, giving artists a platform to shape sound, style and culture for generations. As the genre continues to evolve, Spotify can continue to create meaningful opportunities for a new generation of listeners to discover the music and artists who came before them, while embracing the voices defining what’s next. It’s about keeping that spirit of discovery alive and connecting fans with the full story of R&B and soul.”
The upcoming spectacle will celebrate legendary acts as well as emerging artists who are “carrying Black music forward”.
Presenters and performers will be confirmed soon.
Past hosts of the show included R&B icons like Dionne Warwick, Vanessa Williams, and Gladys Knight. Keke Palmer fronted the most recent Soul Train Awards, held in Los Angeles in 2023.
Beyoncé remains the most awarded artist in the history of the awards, with a whopping 25 wins.
The inaugural Soul Train Awards were staged in March 1987, while the long-running variety TV show, Soul Train, premiered in 1971 and ran for 35 years.
