Grunge Grammy: Nirvana Among 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

In February 1996, nearly two years after Kurt Cobain’s tragic death, Nirvana won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance for their live album, MTV Unplugged In New York. The band that received a total of seven Grammy Award nominations will be among those who will be honored this year with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.

Other 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees announced by the Recording Academy include Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Ma Rainey, Nile Rodgers, The Supremes, Bobby McFerrin, Slick Rick “The Ruler,” and Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart.

This year’s Trustees Award recipients include Henry Diltz, Ellis Marsalis and Jim Stewart. Technical Grammy Award honorees are the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and Dr. Andy Hildebrand. An announcement of the Best Song For Social Change honoree will be made at a later date.

“The Academy is proud to celebrate this diverse slate of influential music people spanning numerous genres and crafts as our 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said. “Each creator on this list has made an impact on our industry — from technical to creative achievements — representing the breadth of music’s diverse community. We’re excited to celebrate this group of legends next month that continues to inspire and shape the music world.”

The 2023 Special Merit Awards recipients will be honored at the 2023 Special Merit Awards Ceremony being held on February 4 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. The 65th Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on February 5 in L.A. at Crypto.com Arena.