Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on February 2, 2026
Photo by Gabriel David Barkin.
Samara Joy continued her remarkable ascent at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, taking home the award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Portrait during the Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1.
At just 26 years old, Joy has quickly established herself as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. Portrait showcases her deep command of the jazz vocal tradition, pairing elegant phrasing and tonal richness with a confident, modern sensibility that feels both timeless and personal.
The GRAMMY win adds to an already impressive run for Joy, whose recent accolades have helped usher jazz back into broader cultural focus. Rather than chasing trends, her work leans into clarity, swing, and emotional honesty, qualities that have earned her respect from longtime jazz listeners and new audiences alike.
Presented during the GRAMMYs’ Premiere Ceremony, the award underscored the continued strength of jazz as a living art form and highlighted Joy’s role as one of its most visible and exciting ambassadors. Her performances and recordings reflect a rare balance of discipline and freedom, honoring the lineage of jazz singing while pushing it gently forward.
With Portrait now recognized as Best Jazz Vocal Album, Samara Joy’s 2026 GRAMMY success stands as further confirmation that her voice is not only one of the genre’s finest today, but one poised to shape its future for years to come.
