Variety Announces 2026 Power of Women Honorees Across Entertainment

The annual recognition highlights influential women working across different areas of entertainment and gives audiences an opportunity to look at the creative and leadership careers shaping the industry. The 2026 honorees represent a range of professional paths, from performing and producing to television development and executive leadership.

The Power of Women event is scheduled for September 23 in Beverly Hills, while the accompanying Variety Power of Women issue is set to be published September 17. The event is being presented in partnership with Lifetime.

Jennifer Hudson Recognized Across Music, Film and Television

Jennifer Hudson enters the 2026 group with a career that has crossed several major areas of entertainment. The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award-winning performer has established herself as a singer, actress and television personality.

Hudson is also preparing for the fifth season of The Jennifer Hudson Show, which is scheduled to premiere September 14. Her career illustrates the increasingly broad range of opportunities available to performers who work across music, film, television and live entertainment.

Her inclusion in this year's Power of Women group recognizes a career built across multiple creative formats and generations of audiences.

Pearlena Igbokwe Represents Television Leadership

Pearlena Igbokwe brings a behind-the-scenes perspective to the 2026 class. As Chairman of Television Studios, NBC Entertainment and Peacock Scripted at NBCUniversal, she oversees programming across NBC Entertainment and scripted originals for Peacock and Universal Studio Group.

According to NBCUniversal, Igbokwe has spent more than three decades working in television and has played a role in developing and overseeing numerous major series. Her previous work includes leadership positions at Universal Television and Showtime, where she was involved with programs including Dexter, Nurse Jackie, The Gilded Age and This Is Us.

Her recognition highlights the importance of creative executives who help identify stories, develop projects and support the talent responsible for bringing television programs to audiences.

Melissa McCarthy's Career Continues to Cross Genres

Melissa McCarthy is being honored for a career that has moved between television, comedy, drama and feature films. An Emmy-winning performer and Academy Award-nominated actress, McCarthy has become one of the most recognizable comedic performers of her generation while also taking on dramatic roles and producing projects.

Her work demonstrates how performers can expand their creative responsibilities beyond acting. Through writing and producing as well as performing, McCarthy has developed a multifaceted career within the entertainment industry.

Her selection also reflects the diversity of the 2026 Power of Women group, which recognizes creative contributions from both performers and industry leaders.

Sharon Stone Celebrates a Long Career in Entertainment

Sharon Stone completes this year's group with a career spanning more than four decades. The Academy Award-nominated actress and producer has appeared in major film and television productions throughout her career and has remained an active figure in popular culture across multiple generations.

Stone's work illustrates the longevity that can accompany a career in entertainment. Her transition between film and television has allowed her to remain connected with changing audiences and evolving forms of storytelling.

Her recent screen work has included an appearance in the final season of HBO's Euphoria, adding another contemporary television credit to a career that began decades ago.

A Celebration of Different Forms of Creative Influence

The significance of the 2026 Power of Women announcement extends beyond the individual names. The four honorees demonstrate that influence within entertainment can take many forms.

Hudson represents the performer whose career spans music, television and film. Igbokwe represents the executive and creative decision-maker working behind the scenes. McCarthy demonstrates the ability of a performer to expand into writing and producing, while Stone represents long-term achievement across film and television.

Together, their careers provide a snapshot of the many professional paths available within the entertainment industry.

The announcement also comes at the beginning of the fall entertainment season, a period traditionally associated with new television programming, upcoming film projects and renewed attention to cultural events.

Looking Ahead to the September Celebration

The four honorees will be formally recognized at the Power of Women Los Angeles event in Beverly Hills on September 23. Their stories will also be featured in the September 17 issue of Variety.

For audiences interested in entertainment and culture, the 2026 selections offer an opportunity to recognize both on-screen talent and the creative leadership working behind the scenes. The group reflects an industry in which successful careers can develop across multiple disciplines and where creative influence can come through performance, production, storytelling or executive leadership.

The 2026 Power of Women celebration therefore stands as a notable upcoming event on the U.S. entertainment calendar, bringing together four established figures whose careers demonstrate different approaches to creativity and professional achievement.