Chaka Khan will receive the Classic Soul Honor at the 2026 Soul Train Awards, celebrating the singer-songwriter’s influence on R&B.
Across her career, which spans more than five decades, Khan helped shape the sound of soul, funk and R&B with her music, including hits like “Tell Me Something Good,” “Sweet Thing,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “I’m Every Woman” and “I Feel for You.” She received 11 Grammys, including the Recording Academy’s Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 with the Musical Excellence Award.
“Chaka Khan is the embodiment of soul music,” said Louis Carr, the president of BET. “From her groundbreaking work with Rufus to a solo career that has produced some of the most iconic records in music history, she has continually expanded the possibilities of R&B and soul while inspiring generations of artists to find and own their voices. Honoring Chaka is a celebration of the music and cultural legacy that Soul Train has always embodied.”
Airing Nov. 27 on BET and CBS, the Soul Train Awards are executive produced by Jesse Collins. Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serve as executive producers, with Jesse Collins Entertainment as the production company for the show. Connie Orlando is the exec producer for BET.
In other TV roundup news:
First Looks/Trailers
National Geographic revealed the trailer for “Expedition: Saving Our Seas,” which premieres Nov. 13.
Narrated by Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), the one-hour special showcases the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expeditions documenting the impact of rapid environmental change on all five ocean basins. The documentary follows teams of National Geographic explorers investigating the ocean.
In the Southern Ocean, three new discoveries surface, including the first-known live sighting of a giant Antarctic gonate squid. Two teams work to understand the impact of rising temperatures on Pacific Ocean ecosystems. The first deep-sea scientist from the Seychelles dives below the surface of the Indian Ocean. Local students train to measure the Atlantic Ocean’s depth along the Gambian coastline. A team works to study the Arctic Ocean, warming at four times the rate of the rest of the planet.
The documentary is presented by the National Geographic Society in partnership with Rolex and produced by Offspring Films. Katharine Arthy is director. Executive producers include Sam Hodgson for Offspring Films, Vanessa Serrao and Kaitlin Yarnall for National Geographic Society and Tracy Rudolph Jackson for National Geographic.
“Expedition: Saving Our Seas” premieres Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. EST on National Geographic and will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Watch the trailer below.
Programming
Five bonus episodes of “Lot Patrol,” from Manny Halley Productions, will debut on BET on Nov. 3.
“Lot Patrol” looks at Hollywood through the lens of an eccentric group of security guards as they patrol a major studio backlot. The comedy series will round out its first season at 10 full episodes after the special premiere.
The series features DeRay Davis (“21 Jump Street,” “Semi-Pro”), Carl Anthony Payne II (“Martin,” “House Party”), Tamera Kissen (“White Men Can’t Jump,” “House Party”) and comedians Skeet Carter, TK Kirkland, Alex Thomas, Tanjareen Thomas, Lionell Dalton, Nick Nervies, Dawn Raven, Iyana Halley and G Thang.
“’Lot Patrol’ is a fresh, culturally rooted take on the industry. People inside and outside entertainment are realizing that the business of Hollywood is actually quite comical through a certain lens,” creator Manny Halley said. “It’s OK to laugh at how things in this town operate — particularly through an urban lens, which is a fresh angle. With this unbelievable ensemble of comedic talent, audiences get exactly what they’re looking for: a unique, genuine tone that is refreshingly different.”
“Lot Patrol” is produced by Manny Halley Productions, a division of Imani Media Group. The series is created and written by Halley and Ernest L. Dancy. Manny Halley Jr., Maureen Pierre and DeRay Davis are producers. Erik White is director.
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“The Biggest Little Farm Series,” a 12-part docuseries and sequel to the documentary “The Biggest Little Farm,” premieres Nov. 8 on YouTube.
The original film follows John and Molly Chester and their team as they transform a depleted farm into a thriving ecosystem. Eight years later, their experiment has become far more wild than they had ever imagined. The series will “dive deeper into the lives of the creatures. It will shed light on the battle between predator and prey, farmer and pest, and reminds audiences that Nature has its own way. To balance the chaos, there’s one question the stewards cannot escape: Can a farm become too feral for its own good?”
“The Biggest Little Farm Series” is presented by the Artemis Rising Foundation. It is directed by John Chester and is produced by Tom Quinn, Paul Gurinas, Jessica Gurinas and Shannon Green. John Chester, Erica Messer, Regina K. Scully and Sandra Keats are executive producers while Amy Overbeck and Ali Galante are co-executive producers.
Watch the full trailer here:
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Hearst Media Production Group has announced a second season of “Home for Good.” The series will return to ABC stations nationwide on Saturday, Jan. 9 as part of the “Weekend Adventure” educational informational programming block.
Hosted by Art Edmonds, “Home for Good” is a “home renovation series honoring people who make a difference in their communities. Each half-hour episode transforms a room or personal space to better serve people who dedicate their lives to helping others. Season 2 will continue to feature first responders while bringing more community champions and service workers into the spotlight, including educators, mentors and volunteers who serve families in need.”
“We’re excited to bring Home for Good back for a second season,” Bryan Curb, president of HMPG, said. “The series shows what giving back looks like through the people who serve their communities, while giving viewers practical fire and CO safety information they can use at home. That combination reflects the value of E/I programming: stories that educate, inform and offer a meaningful benefit to audiences.”
Specials
“The Pursuit: F1 Academy” documentary special will premiere Nov. 19 on Disney+.
The special follows F1 Academy, the all-female racing series created by Formula 1 to prepare young women for higher levels of motorsport. Fans will get behind-the-scenes access to the 2025 Academy season, following a group of elite drivers including Doriane Pin, Maya Weug, Chloe Chambers and Alisha Palmowski.
“The Pursuit: F1 Academy” was filmed across global locations during the 2025 racing season and will also provide insight into the teams and leadership shaping F1 Academy, including managing director Susie Wolff.
The documentary special was produced in association with ESPN as the latest extension of the “Fuel the Magic” partnership between Disney, Formula 1 and F1 Academy. The collaboration was first launched at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 and expanded to the Grand Prix Du Canada 2026 to include the Academy with classic Disney icons Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.
“The Pursuit: F1 Academy” will air ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026 on Nov. 19-21. The special will also be available to stream on the ESPN app later this year.