Music legend Chaka Khan and Q Parker of the ‘90s hitmaking R&B quartet 112 will serve as Honorary Ambassador and Honorary Gala Chair, respectively, for the Living Legends Foundation, Inc.’s annual awards dinner and gala. Taking place at Flourish by Legendary in Atlanta on Oct. 2, the affair additionally marks the foundation’s 35th anniversary.
The occasion also marks a full-circle moment for Khan. The 10-time Grammy Award winner was among the honorees saluted by the Living Legends Foundation in 1992. “When you cross a bridge, you don’t think about all the hands that built it,” commented Khan in the press announcement. “Some of the most important contributions are the ones we never see. Thank you, Living Legends Foundation, for seeing that every story matters and for honoring those hands and hearts that helped build the way for all of us.”
Living Legends Foundation chairman David C. Linton added, “Having Chaka Khan serve as our Honorary Ambassador during this milestone year is incredibly meaningful. Chaka’s history with the foundation reaches back to our earliest years, and her extraordinary career represents the excellence, longevity and cultural impact we have worked to celebrate for 35 years. We are honored to welcome her back as we recognize another remarkable class of Living Legends.”
Of his role with the gala, Grammy winner Parker said, “Black music has given me a career, a community and an opportunity to use my gifts to impact people around the world. So serving as Honorary Chair for the foundation’s 35th anniversary is truly an honor. This organization understands that our industry is bigger than the names we see on the marquee. There are countless people behind the scenes who have dedicated their lives to moving our culture forward. I’m proud to stand with the Living Legends Foundation as we give these trailblazers their flowers and continue creating opportunities for the generations coming behind us.”
Announced in June, the 2026 slate of Living Legends honorees is led by BET president Louis Carr, who will receive the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award. Additional award recipients include Alamo Records COO Juliette Jones, the Black Promoters Collective and Amazon Music global head of music industry and culture collaborations Phylicia Fant. Find the full list of honorees plus more information about the gala and the Living Legends Foundation HERE.
In related news, both Khan and Parker are working on upcoming music projects. Khan’s Chakzilla — the singer-songwriter’s first full-length studio album in seven years — arrives Sept. 18. The set’s guest collaborations include Sia, Snoop Dogg, and Lenny Kravitz. Coming this fall, Parker’s Evolution of Romance, Volume Two is the next installment in a previously announced multiple-album rollout. It will feature the recently released single “Stare.”
