Chaka Khan to Receive Vanguard Award on June 12 in Los Angeles
Chaka Khan is set to receive the Vanguard Award on Friday, June 12, at The Connie Orlando Foundation Presents Black Women in Music Dinner in Los Angeles. The honor lands in the event’s second year and puts her on a lineup built around Black women in music and the women who support the business behind it.
Los Angeles Dinner on June 12
The dinner will be held at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion, where the foundation will again use the night as its annual fundraiser for breast cancer prevention and care. That makes the award more than a tribute line on a program: it sits inside a benefit tied to a specific health mission, not just an industry celebration.
The organization says the event is designed to “celebrate Black women who safeguard, preserve and elevate the music industry and their unmatched contributions to Black excellence.” Zainab Johnson will host, giving the night a comedy-and-culture frame rather than a straight industry gala.
Connie Orlando on the Mission
“Black Women in Music began with a simple idea, to shine a light on the extraordinary women who are the lifeblood of music and global culture, and to create a space where we can celebrate ourselves, on our own terms,” Connie Orlando said in a statement. She added, “We are proud to return, not only to honor this year’s incredible women, but to continue raising awareness for breast cancer and investing in the health and well-being of our community.”
“With our Founding Partner HarbourView Equity Partners, we are building something that goes beyond one night,” Orlando said. “This is about visibility, ownership, and making sure Black women in music are seen, supported and sustained at every level.”
Gail Mitchell and Ebonie Smith
Billboard’s Gail Mitchell and producer Ebonie Smith will receive Angel Spotlight, widening the night’s focus beyond Khan to the people who document, shape and produce the industry. Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, said, “Black Women in Music and The Connie Orlando Foundation are doing the critical work of shaping how artistry and leadership are seen, valued, and sustained.”
In February, Khan received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and the June 12 honor keeps her in the center of a season already defined by recognition. For readers following the event, the useful takeaway is simple: the dinner is a fundraiser first, a tribute second, and Los Angeles is where both will happen on the same night.
