Soul Train Awards Return
Soul Train Awards return with a fall television taping in Chicago after hiatus.
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Key Points
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The Soul Train Awards will be pre-recorded in Chicago rather than airing live, signaling a shift in how the ceremony is produced for the revival.
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Jesse Collins Entertainment will return to produce the show, with Connie Orlando serving as executive producer and Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also as executive producers.
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The Chicago taping nods to Soul Train’s origins, as the franchise began in Chicago in 1971 when Don Cornelius launched it on local WCIU.
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The most recent Soul Train Awards (2023) was hosted by Keke Palmer, making her the last host before the 2024–25 hiatus.
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BET’s former CEO Scott Mills announced the 2024–25 suspensions of the Soul Train Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards, and he left BET in December, framing the revival as a reboot after the hiatus.
The Soul Train Awards are coming back after a three-year hiatus, returning to television this November on BET and CBS. The ceremony will be taped in Chicago on November 27 at 8 p.m. ET, marking the first time CBS has simulcast the show and a major expansion of the awards' reach across multiple platforms including BET Her, VH1, MTV2, and LOGO.
Spotify will serve as the exclusive streaming partner, while Toyota joins as a presenting sponsor. The revival brings the iconic celebration of Black music and R&B culture back to its roots—Chicago, where Don Cornelius first launched Soul Train in 1971 as a local television show.
Why Chicago Matters to Soul Train's Comeback
The decision to tape in Chicago is deeply symbolic. Soul Train began there in 1971 when Don Cornelius launched the show on local station WCIU, creating a cultural force that shaped Black music television for decades. BET executives emphasized that returning to Chicago connects the awards to their historical roots and honors the legacy that made Soul Train revolutionary.
The city represents more than nostalgia—it symbolizes reconnection. By taping where Soul Train began, the revival signals respect for the franchise's origins while bridging established artists with the next generation of R&B talent.
A New Distribution Strategy Across Multiple Platforms
The 2026 revival expands Soul Train's audience significantly. For the first time, CBS will simulcast the awards alongside BET, dramatically broadening viewership beyond the core BET audience. The show will also air on BET Her, VH1, MTV2, and LOGO, creating multiple entry points for fans across different demographics and interests.
Spotify's role as exclusive streaming partner underscores a modernized approach. The partnership aims to connect artists with global audiences, moving beyond traditional broadcast to reach listeners where they already engage with music daily.
Behind-the-Scenes Production Leadership
Jesse Collins Entertainment returns as producer, bringing back a team with deep experience in music television. Connie Orlando serves as executive producer, joined by Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay in executive producer roles. The consistency in production leadership suggests continuity while the show undergoes creative reimagining.
The 2023 Soul Train Awards, hosted by Keke Palmer, marked the last ceremony before the hiatus. That show set the stage for the franchise's pause, which gave producers time to develop a format that pairs legacy honorees with contemporary artists, creating generational dialogue around R&B and soul music.
Why the Hiatus and What Comes Next
BET's leadership suspended the Soul Train Awards after 2023, pausing the 2024–25 cycle to refocus the franchise. The break allowed producers to reimagine the ceremony's format and expand its reach, moving beyond a single broadcast to a multi-platform event that honors the show's half-century legacy in Black music and culture.
Details about honorees and performances will be announced later, but the revival signals BET's commitment to reclaiming Soul Train's influence in an era where streaming and broadcast coexist. Toyota's involvement as presenting partner adds corporate backing that supports the ambitious expansion across networks and platforms.
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