Brandi Carlile Named Entertainer of the Year at 2026 Anthem Awards

Brandi Carlile has been named Entertainer of the Year at the 2026 Anthem Awards, a prize that recognises work with social impact. The awards were announced by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, the group behind the Webby Awards, and Billboard reported the win on 5 November 2026.

Carlile was honoured for using her music and her public profile to champion LGBTQ+ equality. She was also recognised for directing millions of dollars to grassroots organisations, the small local groups that work directly with communities, through the Looking Out Foundation.

Her wider record is long. Carlile has won 11 Grammy Awards and two Children's and Family Emmy Awards. She was Oscar-nominated for co-writing "Never Too Late" with Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt. In 2019 she won a Trailblazer Award at Billboard Women in Music, and she has been nominated three times for outstanding music artist at the GLAAD Media Awards.

The Anthem Awards also handed out prizes to other winners. Seth and Lauren Miller Rogen were named Advocates of the Year for supporting families affected by Alzheimer's through Hilarity for Charity and the animated film Tangles. Jay Shetty won Podcast of the Year for On Purpose. Nneka Ogwumike was named Athlete of the Year for her leadership as president of the WNBA Players Association. David and Michael Bronner received the Vision award.

This was the sixth edition of the awards. Winners were chosen from more than 2,500 submissions from 43 countries. The Anthem Community Voice Celebration, a public voting stage, drew more than 67,000 votes.

Carlile's year has included other honours. Austin City Limits marked her induction into its 12th annual Hall of Fame with a special hour in her honour, a programme published on 11 September 2026. The Los Angeles Press Club has also said she will receive its Visionary Award for Humanitarian Work, an award it announced on 20 October 2026.

For the Anthem Awards, the focus is on the work itself. Entries are judged on social impact, and the judges come from fields including LGBTQ advocacy, racial equity, climate justice, mental health and gun control. Carlile's win puts a musician at the top of a list that more often features brands and nonprofits.