Grammys 2026: Reba McEntire on Brandon Blackston, In Memoriam
Written by admin on February 2, 2026
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Reba McEntire will always hold Brandon Blackstock close.
And during the 2026 Grammy Awards, the late talent manager—whose father, Narvel Blackstock, was married to Reba for over 20 years—will be among the musicians and artists that she, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson will be honoring with a performance of “Trailblazer” during the ceremony’s In Memoriam tribute.
“It really is special to me, because my son is one that we’re honoring,” Reba told Zuri Hall during Live From E!: Grammys, growing emotional. “He passed away in August, and so Brandon is going to be up on the stage with Brandy, and me, and Lukas, and the two ladies playing the cello and the violin, so it’s going to be very special.”
And despite having previously won three Grammys out of 18 nominations, all of which hold special memories, the 70-year-old added of the upcoming performance, “This is going to be my favorite memory.”
After all, when she and Narvel tied the knot back in 1989, his children—including Chassidy Blackstock and Shawna Blackstock, in addition to Brandon—soon became her own, even after their 2015 split.
“I don’t consider Brandon, Chassidy and Shawna stepchildren,” Reba—who is engaged to Rex Linn—told The Boot back in 2010. “I claim them all.”
It’s partly why she’s especially grateful to Brandy for helping to bring the In Memoriam performance to life: Brand did the arranging for this new version of “Trailblazer,” which Reba originally released alongside Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert.
“It really does touch my heart,” Reba said of the song, adding to Brandy, “especially the way you have rewritten it, it has such heart to it.”
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As for Brandy, while she was honored to be involved in writing the original version of “Trailblazer”—which Reba said was to honor the “ladies of country music who” came before them—she was even more touched to be able to rearrange the song for the Grammys.
“It means a lot to me,” the 50-year-old said. “Sadly, I know some of those people that are being honored tonight, and to do this with Reba and Lukas—it’s just such an honor.”
For a look at all the artists who will be in the audience for the special performance, read on.
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Sabrina Carpenter
in custom Valentino and Chopard jewelry.
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Teyana Taylor
in Tom Ford and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
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Chappell Roan
in custom Mugler.
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Justin Bieber & Hailey Bieber
in Balenciaga and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry (Justin) and Alaïa and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry (Hailey).
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Tate McRae
in Balenciaga and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
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Jelly Roll & Bunnie Xo
in custom Louis Vuitton, Happy Jewelers jewelry and custom Bowen Bootwear (Jelly Roll).
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Lady Gaga
in custom Matieres Fecales.
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Billie Eilish
in custom Hodakova.
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Miley Cyrus
in Celine and Pomellato jewelry.
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Olivia Dean
in Chanel and Cartier jewelry.
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Kesha
in Atelier Biser.
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Benson Boone
in Giorgio Armani.
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Halle Bailey
in Paolo Sebastian.
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Jennifer Hudson
in custom Kilian Kerner.
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Kelly Osbourne
in Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
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Jack Antonoff
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Ty Dolla Sign
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Karol G
in Paolo Sebastian, Jacob & Co. jewelry and Gianvito Rossi shoes.
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Jon Batiste
in Christian Louboutin shoes.
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Trevor Noah
in Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Christian Louboutin shoes.
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Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral & Marcello Hernández
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Chaka Khan
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Summer Walker
in Walter Mendez Atelier and Sterling Forever jewelry.
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Busta Rhymes
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Chrissy Teigen & John Legend
in Caroline’s Couture and Chopard jewelry (Teigen) and custom Louis Vuitton and Hublot watch (Legend).
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Nikki Glaser
in Nicolas Jebran, Le Silla shoes, Tyler Ellis bag, YEPREM and Messika jewelry.
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Bad Bunny
in custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture and Cartier jewelry.
Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Doechii
in custom Roberto Cavalli and Chopard jewelry.
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Pharrell Williams & Helen Lasichanh
in custom Louis Vuitton.
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Kirk Franklin
Watch the Grammys 2026 Sunday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
