Photo by Richard Shotwell. At a pre-Grammy event celebrating the cultural power of Black music, Pharrell Williams used the Recording Academy stage for a moment that went far beyond music. Speaking at the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective event in Los Angeles, Pharrell offered a public prayer, not for himself, but for U.S. leaders.
“I want to pray for the leaders of this nation and the powers that be,” Pharrell said as he accepted the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. He asked leaders to act with compassion, saying he was praying they find “some empathy, some grace and, most importantly, some mercy” for people who may not have been born in the country but love it just as deeply. Pharrell reminded the room why that matters, saying, “They would not be here if they didn’t believe us when we keep saying that this is the greatest nation on the planet,” before closing his message with a clear call for “empathy, grace and mercy.”
His words drew strong applause inside the Fairmont Century Plaza ballroom, just days before the Grammy Awards. The 13-time Grammy winner was one of three honorees at the fourth annual Black Music Collective event, which celebrates artists whose impact extends far beyond music. R&B icon Brandy and gospel trailblazer Kirk Franklin each received the Black Music Icon Award. Pharrell’s award was presented by Justin Timberlake, who performed a medley of songs they created together, including “Rock Your Body” and “Happy.” Timberlake praised Pharrell as “one of one,” adding, “You are one of my favorite humans, bro. I am so honored to be here.”
One of the night’s most emotional tributes came from Tyler, The Creator, who credited Pharrell with opening doors throughout his career. “Every door he goes in, he comes back out, grabs people, gives them the key,” Tyler said, calling Pharrell his “North Star.” Dr. Dre, for whom the award is named, highlighted Pharrell’s influence across music, fashion, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship, noting how he consistently uses culture as a tool for social change. “For this, I am so proud to have my name on an award now shared by him,” Dr. Dre said.
In his own remarks, Pharrell described music as “the skeleton key” that unlocked opportunity throughout his life. He explained that “a good skeleton key opens all doors, not just exclusive ones,” and said music opened the doors to the things that matter most to him. Still, amid all the performances and tributes, Pharrell’s prayer lingered in the room. It served as a reminder that for him, impact is never just about success or visibility. “Impact comes in many forms,” Pharrell said. “Sometimes global, sometimes local, sometimes cultural and sometimes deeply personal.”
