‘Forget Me Nots’ Singer Patrice Rushen Is Among 2026 NEA Jazz Masters

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the 2026 recipients of the Jazz Masters Fellowship, billed as the highest award bestowed by the United States on jazz musicians and advocates. They are pianist, composer, musical director and educator Patrice Rushen; vocalist, composer and arranger Carmen Lundy; drummer, percussionist, composer and educator Airto Moreira; and jazz broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton, who is set to receive the 2026 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

Rushen, Moreire and Lundy have all received Grammy nominations. Rushen also landed a top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 with “Forget Me Nots,” which has often been sampled and interpolated.

The NEA will honor the 2026 Jazz Masters at a free concert on Saturday, April 18, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and streamed online.

 “As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the NEA is proud to also honor these individuals who have played a significant role in jazz, considered one of our country’s greatest cultural gifts to the world,” NEA senior advisor Mary Anne Carter said in a statement. “As with our nation, jazz is an art form with a rich heritage that continues to evolve, thanks to those who have dedicated their lives and creativity to this music over generations.”

The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to living individuals based on nominations from the public including members of the jazz community. NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are $25,000. Since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded 181 fellowships to important figures in jazz.

Rushen’s career has bridged jazz, R&B, classical and pop. Rushen was the first woman to serve as musical director for the Grammy Awards, the Emmy Awards and the NAACP Image Awards.

“It is an absolute honor to be named an NEA Jazz Master,” Rushen said in a statement. “To even be considered among those whose love of this art form has contributed to the music at the highest level, is an indescribable feeling. I am humbled and grateful.”

Hamilton played a key role in the early days of jazz radio station WBGO-FM and has served as a trusted guide for generations of jazz listeners, including in her current role as host of a weekday radio show on KKJZ-FM in Los Angeles.

Lundy’s artistry has significantly influenced modern jazz over a career spanning more than five decades and including more than 150 published songs.

Moreira is a defining voice in jazz percussion, proficient at instruments ranging from the tambourine to the bongos.

Visit the NEA site for more information about the 2026 NEA Jazz Masters.