Soul legend Erykah Badu and emerging R&B star Muni Long are among the honorees at Billboard’s Women in Music 2025 event.
The star-studded ceremony, hosted by Laverne Cox, takes place March 29 at YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. It will celebrate “the most influential artists and industry leaders with inspiring performances, awards, and tributes.”
Badu will receive the Icon Award for her genre-defying career and cultural impact. The “Bag Lady” singer recently earned her first Grammy award in over 20 years at the 67th ceremony, where she won Best Melodic Rap Performance for her feature on Rapsody’s “3:AM.”
“My goodness. Thank you @billboard for the #icon award. I do not take it for granted. And I’m definitely in good company. Congrats to all the 2025 billboard women in music honorees,” Badu wrote on Instagram.
Long will be presented with the Rising Star Award, presented by Honda Stage, after having a breakout year.
In 2024, she released her sophomore album, Revenge, which was ranked No. 1 on Rated R&B’s 25 Best R&B Albums of 2024 list.
The album spawned multiple No. 1 Billboard hits, including “Made For Me,” “Ruined Me” and “Make Me Forget.” At publication time, Long’s latest single, “Superpowers,” is eyeing the top 10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart at No. 11.
Long was the most-nominated artist in the R&B field at the 67th Grammy Awards, which took place Feb. 2, with four nods. She took home one trophy for Best R&B Performance for “Made For Me (Live On BET).”
“The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event celebrates the incredible women who continue to drive innovation, inspire change, and reshape the future of music,” said Dana Droppo, Billboard’s chief brand officer.
Billboard’s Editorial Director Hannah Karp added, “From rising stars to legendary icons, this year’s honorees are redefining what it means to be a trailblazer in the industry. We’re honored to highlight their outstanding achievements and contributions through unforgettable performances, powerful tributes, and an evening that will truly shine a spotlight on their impact. It’s a privilege to continue Billboard’s tradition of recognizing the women who are pushing the boundaries of music and culture, and we can’t wait to share this incredible night with our global audience.”
Other honorees at Billboard Women in Music 2025 include Afrobeats pop singer Tyla (Impact Award), rapper GloRilla (Powerhouse Award), pop singer Meghan Trainer (Hitmaker Award), K-pop group aespa (Group of the Year), singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), K-pop artist JENNIE (Global Force Award) and country singer Megan Moroney (Rulebreaker Award).
Tickets to the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event are available at ticketmaster.com.
