LEGACY

Celia Cruz joins Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026 with Early Influence honor

Celia Cruz continues to be honored after she died in 2003

APRIL 20, 2026 10:28 AM EDTAPR 20, 2026, 10:28 AM EDT

Celia Cruz is still getting the recognition she deserves. More than 20 years after her death, the Queen of Salsa is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026 with the Early Influence Award.

Celia won multiple GRAMMYS and Latin GRAMMYS

The news was revealed during a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame–themed episode of American Idol, with Ryan Seacrest and Lionel Richie announcing the class. The Cuban legend is being recognized alongside Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons.

The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 14, in Los Angeles, with the broadcast scheduled to premiere in December on ABC and Disney+.

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Born in Havana, Cruz came up with La Sonora Matancera before building a solo career, moving through languages, genres, and borders without ever losing who she was. The singer is recognized for bringing Afro-Cuban music to a global audience at a time when that wasn’t easy.

She brought Afro-Cuban music to the global stage

The "Queen of Salsa's" voice was instantly recognizable, and her energy was unmatched, with her Cuban pride and identity shining through. From the wigs, the dresses, the colorful makeup, and the amazing outfits, Cruz commanded any stage she was on.

2001

During her life, she was recognized for her work. The 6-time GRAMMY winner got a star on the Walk of Fame in 1987, and in 1994, she received the National Medal of the Arts from Bill Clinton.

Cruz passed away in 2003 at the age of 77 after battling a brain tumor, and the loss was felt across generations. She received multiple lifetime achievement honors and continued winning awards even after her death. Her final album earned a posthumous win, and tributes to her life kept showing up through musicals, exhibits, and even a school named in her honor in the Bronx.

After her passing, the honors continue. In 2025, she was featured on a U.S. quarter, as part of the “Queen of Salsa,” appearing on the coin dressed in traditional Cuban attire next to her motto ¡Azúcar!.

The year marked the centennial of her birth, and they released Celia Cruz en Vivo: 100 Años de Azúcar (Celia Cruz Live: 100 Years of Azúcar), featuring previously unreleased live recordings from the mid-1980s.