Clive Davis And The Recording Academy
To Honor Bet Networks Chairman And Ceo

Debra Lee of BET will receive the Grammy Salute To Industry Icons Award At The 2017 Pre-Grammy Gala

As part of the annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra Lee will be honored during the annual celebration preceding the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. Clive Davis and The Recording Academy will honor Debra L. Lee and recognize her as the first woman to receive the 2017 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award.

Debra Lee at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit
(Photo By Asa Mathat | Fortune Live Media)

“It is such a tremendous honor to receive this year’s GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award. Music is a part of BET’s DNA and it’s always been my goal to touch people by educating, inspiring, providing opportunity, and affecting real change through the powerful medium of entertainment,” said Debra L Lee, CEO of BET Networks. “I am proud and thrilled to be the first woman to join this dynamic group of industry trailblazers.”

Clive Davis (Photograph by Christopher Peterson)

“I am thrilled that The Recording Academy is presenting BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee with this year’s GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award,” said Clive Davis, co-host of the Pre-GRAMMY Gala. “Debra’s many years of wonderful work and dedication to the network, as well as raising the profile of businesswomen in the African-American community, has been remarkable and she truly deserves this great honor.”

Debra as the first woman to receive this prestigious award will join the company of past GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award recipients like Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Berry Gordy, Sir Richard Branson and Clive Davis. Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy said “Debra has elevated BET to the remarkable platform it is today, and we look forward to celebrating our first, and definitely not the last, female honoree as our industry continues to recognize the significant contributions of female leaders.”