Questlove to Receive Peabody Trailblazer Award (EXCLUSIVE)

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning director and co-founder of the influential band The Roots, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Peabody Trailblazer Award. The Roots, formed in Philadelphia in 1987, are widely credited with bringing live instrumentation and improvisation into mainstream hip-hop. The ceremony, set for October 10 in Los Angeles, will feature “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quinta Brunson—herself a 2023 Trailblazer honoree—presenting the award.

After accepting the honor, Thompson will join civil rights leader and academic Angela Davis for a discussion about his wide-ranging creative influence and cultural contributions. Dr. Jeffrey Jones, Peabody’s executive director, praised Thompson as “a defining voice in interpreting American culture,” noting how his work “cements the essential role of Black musical innovation in global arts.” He added that the conversation with Davis will bridge historical movements with modern artistic expression.

The Peabody Trailblazer Award recognizes storytellers whose innovative approaches drive social change. Previous winners include Issa Rae and Brunson. Thompson, who reshaped hip-hop aesthetics with The Roots through their emphasis on live performance, has also gained recognition as a filmmaker and author. His documentary “Summer of Soul,” which restored and reframed footage from the historic 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, earned both an Academy Award and a Peabody. More recently, his projects “Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)” and “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years Of SNL Music” received Emmy nominations.

Beyond his artistic output, Questlove has established himself as a dedicated archivist and educator, using books, lectures, and curated works to explore the intersections of music, race, and social justice. As cultural commentator Janelle Rodriguez noted, “He doesn’t just create—he contextualizes, ensuring marginalized stories enter the mainstream.” Through both advocacy and meticulous storytelling, he elevates narratives that might otherwise remain unheard.

The event will take place at The Sun Rose Hotel in Los Angeles, with sponsorship from Dropbox, Onyx Collective, and Amazon. The Peabody Awards, administered by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, celebrate excellence in media and public service. This year’s Trailblazer celebration follows June’s 2025 Peabody Awards ceremony, where “Saturday Night Live” received the Institutional Award and veteran broadcast journalist Andrea Mitchell was honored with the Career Achievement Award.