LOS ANGELES — It was not surprising when the audience at the Grammy Recording Academy Special Merit Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday gave standing ovations to vocal powerhouse Chaka Khan, esteemed Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin and three deceased music giants — Whitney Houston, Nigerian Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti and New York-born Latin-jazz pioneer Eddie Palmieri.

But the invitation-only audience at this non-televised event also gave standing ovations to South Miami Senior High School band director Jennifer Jimenez, the 2026 Grammy Music Educator of the Year honoree, as well as 91-year-old computer-music visionary John Chowning and groundbreaking record company executive Sylvia Rhone.

“I often tell our students that band is a community you get to choose,” said Jimenez, who thanked her husband for being “the best band-dad any music director could have.”

Taupin and Rhone both received a Trustees Award, which is given in recognition of extensive major achievements in music by non-performers.

“I’ve been waiting 57 years to get one of these!” said Taupin, who since 1972 has had three Grammy nominations and no wins.

Rhone, the first Black woman to head a major record label, broke into tears at one point during her acceptance speech. “Music is not made in silos,” she said. “It grows through communication … It tells the story of our collective vision.”

Curiously, the Trustees Award for non-performers was also given to Palmieri, who formed his first group in 1950 at the age of 14, recorded 45 albums as a band leader, and played concerts up until about 10 months before his death last August at the age of 88.

Despite this puzzling move, Saturday’s ceremony at the historic Wilshire Ebell Theater was memorable and moving from start to finish. This held true even in the cases of Cher, Paul Simon and former Tijuana guitarist Carlos Santana, none of whom were present to receive their Grammy Lifetime Achievement awards in person.

In her three-sentence-long video acceptance speech, Cher said: “The only thing I ever wanted to be is a singer. When I was 4 years old, I’d run around the house — naked — singing into a hairbrush. Actually, things haven’t changed that much.”

Houston’s award was accepted by Pat Houston. She is Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law and the former manager of the vocal superstar, who died at the age of 48 in 2012, just one day before that year’s Grammy Awards.

“Her voice still soars and her legacy lives on,” Pat Houston said of Whitney. “She didn’t just sing songs, she told stories.”

Santana’s award was accepted by his musician son, Salvador, who told the audience: “What matters most to my dad isn’t the awards. It’s the connection to people … My father has always believed music is a spiritual force.”

Simon’s award was accepted by Michael Ostin, the son of former Warner Bros. Records’ honcho Mo Ostin. Palmieri’s was accepted by his daughter, Eydie, while four of the late Kuti’s adult children accepted the award on behalf of their father, who died in 1997. He is the first African artist to receive a Lifetime Achievement Grammy.

The Harry Belafonte Song for Social Change Award went to British singer-songwriter Raye and her co-writers for “Ice Cream Man,” Michael Sabath and Michael Tucker. The song was inspired by the physical and emotional trauma Raye suffered after being sexually assaulted by a music producer.

Khan, who kicks off a mini-concert tour on Feb. 13, earned the loudest and longest ovation of any of Saturday’s honorees.

“Music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth. Through it, I saved my life,” she said. “Over 50 years I am blessed to walk alongside extraordinary artists, musicians, writers, producers and creatives — and cuckoos!”

Khan and Taupin were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. On Saturday, Taupin expressed deep gratitude for his career.

“I know that I’m blessed to do what I do in a world where so many people hate going to work — they don’t want to go to work, they can’t stand their jobs.” he said. “Songwriters are the luckiest people in the world.”

Taupin cited some of his biggest songwriting inspirations, including Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson and Leonard Cohen. He then offered some sage advice for songwriters.

“Always think out of the box,” Taupin said. “Avoid cliches and predictability. Never write by numbers. Stay out of cubicles! Don’t ever write (songs) in a cubicle. Always throw a curve ball in, even with the most simple songs, because that’s what people will remember.”

He paused for a perfectly timed beat, then continued.

“Don’t say (in a song) you’re going to die if she leaves you. You won’t. And vice versa.”

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