Brandi Carlile was named the entertainer of the year for the 2026 Anthem Awards on Thursday (Nov. 5) “for using her music and platform to champion LGBTQ+ equality, and for directing millions of dollars to grassroots organizations through the Looking Out Foundation,” according to the organization.
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The Anthem Awards, which recognize social impact, are presented by the Webby Awards. This was the sixth year for the awards, which were announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
Carlile has received numerous awards and nominations, both for her music and for her advocacy. Her awards include 11 Grammys and two Children’s and Family Emmy Awards. She was nominated for an Oscar for cowriting “Never Too Late” with fellow LGBTQ icon Elton John, as well as their collaborators Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt. She won a Trailblazer Award at Billboard Women in Music in 2019 and was nominated for outstanding music artist at the GLAAD Media Awards three times.
Carlile, 45, came out as a lesbian in a November 2002 interview.
Other 2026 special achievement winners, with the rationales for their awards provided by the Anthem Awards, are:
- Seth and Lauren Miller Rogen: Advocates of the year “for their work supporting families impacted by Alzheimer’s, advancing research and changing how the disease is understood through Hilarity for Charity and their animated film Tangles.”
- Jay Shetty: Podcast of the year “for using the power of conversation on On Purpose to make personal growth, mental health, relationships and purpose more accessible to millions around the world.”
- David and Michael Bronner: Vision award “for challenging the business world to embrace a more purposeful, accountable and regenerative future, and for helping develop the Purpose Pledge to raise the standard for responsible business.”
- Nneka Ogwumike: Athlete of the year “for her decade of leadership as president of the WNBA Players Association, fighting for greater equity, compensation and investment in women’s sports.”
Other special achievement winners are KM Strategies Group, agency of the year; The LEGO Group, brand of the year; AARP, nonprofit of the year; and DoSomething, small nonprofit of the year.
More than 67,000 votes were cast during this year’s Anthem Community Voice Celebration. Winners include EVERY PREGNANCY, World Economic Forum, Innocence Project, Edges of Earth, Girls Who Code, Refugees International and ProtectedSeas.
The Anthem Award winners were selected from more than 2,500 submissions from 43 countries. The full list of winners, including silver and bronze award winners, can be found at the Anthem Awards site.
