Gracie Awards Celebrate Women Reshaping Media

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 12:33pm CT

Gracie Awards

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation celebrated its 75th anniversary with the presentation of the 51st Annual Gracie Awards at the The Beverly Wilshire, honoring women across journalism, entertainment, sports, podcasting, and digital media.

Hosted by two-time Emmy-nominated actress and producer Yvette Nicole Brown, the ceremony highlighted themes of resilience, authenticity, and storytelling, with honorees sharing personal reflections on aging, caregiving, grief, survival, and reinvention.

"In 1951, more than 280 women in broadcasting came together and founded their own organization to make sure their voices couldn't be ignored," Brown told attendees. "At a time when women were fighting just to be in the room, those 280 visionaries just built their own dang room."

Music icon Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance to honor journalist Adai Lamar for her reporting on the Los Angeles County wildfires, while four-time Grammy nominee Mickey Guyton performed "Remember Her Name."

AWMF President Becky Brooks reflected on the organization's milestone anniversary and the role women continue to play in shaping the media industry. "When we celebrate women in media, we're not just giving awards, we're saying: 'Your work matters, your voice matters,'" Brooks said.

Actress Andie MacDowell received the Gracies Icon Award and spoke about aging authentically in Hollywood. "I have had the absolute audacity to age," MacDowell said. "And I love everyone who has embraced it as much as I have."

Other notable moments included Kelly Rowland presenting Tina Knowles with an award for her audiobook Matriarch. Knowles described recording the audiobook as "pure therapy" and thanked daughters Beyonce, Solange, Kelly, and Angie for supporting her openness in sharing personal stories.

Monica Lewinsky received a Gracie for her podcast Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, delivering one of the evening's most emotional speeches. "You continue to give me something I spent years searching for: a space where I wasn't just a headline," Lewinsky said. "This is for everyone who's ever been told their story is over. It's not. It's just beginning."

Additional honorees included Jamie Kern Lima, presented by Chrissy Teigen; Lauren Book for her work with Lauren's Kids Foundation; and actress Katherine LaNasa for her role in The Pitt.

Producer Chuck Lorre added humor to the evening while presenting comedian Leanne Morgan with her award, joking that women - not artificial intelligence - were taking over the entertainment industry.

The ceremony also spotlighted women-led productions, independent journalism, and creator-driven media platforms during a period of significant change across the media business.