Taylor Swift will receive the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The Hollywood Reporter’s annual Women in Entertainment breakfast gala in Los Angeles, according to a Wednesday announcement by the magazine.
The honor, which recognizes trailblazers and philanthropists within the media and entertainment sectors, will be presented to Swift by director Greta Gerwig. The event coincides with the release of the publication’s Women in Entertainment issue, which includes the Power 100 list highlighting the most influential female executives and talent in the industry.
“Taylor Swift took on an industry that has long underestimated women and won on every front: artistically, commercially and on the question of who owns her work,” Maer Roshan, editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter, said.
Roshan said that Swift reclaimed her catalog and established new terms for subsequent artists while becoming the most popular musician globally. This recognition places Swift among a roster of past recipients that includes Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, and Adele.
The legacy of Sherry Lansing
The award was established to honor Sherry Lansing, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures and the first woman to lead a major Hollywood studio. Lansing expressed her support for the selection during the announcement.
“She has paved the way for women in music, demonstrating what is possible when a woman takes ownership of her work, her career and her future,” Lansing said. Sherry Lansing
Lansing also highlighted Swift’s commitment to philanthropy as a key component of her leadership. The gala is presented by founding sponsor Lifetime and title sponsor Lilly.
Lilly, a company with a 150-year history, is using its sponsorship to emphasize women’s health. As part of this initiative, the company is partnering with the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative to improve the portrayal of chronic diseases, such as breast cancer, in film and television. Lilly will also provide three days of mobile mammogram screenings across Los Angeles in collaboration with Black Health Matters.
Empowering the next generation
Beyond the high-profile awards, the gala serves as a focal point for the Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program. Approximately 40 high school juniors and seniors from underserved Los Angeles schools will attend the breakfast. This 17-year-old program, a joint venture with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, pairs young women with powerful female executives.
The program costs participants a large amount of money. Over the last 17 years, mentees have received more than $16 million in scholarships. This year, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation and Lifetime will provide more than $500,000 in university scholarships to participating high school seniors.
Target has joined the program as a new leading partner. Through a grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Target will support resources including college admissions counseling, financial aid assistance, and career development opportunities.
The scale of support for these initiatives is reflected in the contributions from various organizations:
| Organization | Role/Contribution |
|---|---|
| Lifetime | Founding sponsor; contributed nearly $2.5 million in scholarships over nine years |
| The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation | Provider of $500,000 in university scholarships |
| Target | Leading partner for the Mentorship Program |
| Lilly | Title sponsor focusing on women’s health initiatives |
Greta Gerwig, who will present the award, is a four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for the global success of Barbie. Her upcoming project, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, is scheduled for a global theatrical release on Feb. 12, 2027.
The announcement follows a period of significant recognition for The Hollywood Reporter, which recently won a Daytime Emmy for its Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter video series. In 2026, the publication also received 20 SoCal Journalism Awards and 96 nominations at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
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