Ahmir ”Questlove“Thompson, the Roots member who has also become an Oscar and Grammy-winning filmmaker, has been dropped to get 2025 Fresh Trailblazer Award. Thompson will receive the award at a ceremony in Los Angeles on October 10.
The “Abbott Elementary” star and Exec producer Quinta Brunson, a former recipient of the Trailblazer Award, will present the honor to Thompson, who will also sit down in conversation about his career and cultural impact with citizen activist Angela Davis.
“Through its wonderful production of creative work on documentary filmmaking, publishing, music and more, Questlove has emerged as one of our most important voices to understand American culture from the past and present,” Peabody CEO Dr. Jeffrey Jones in a statement. “His work has focused our attention on the centrality of black musical genius when it comes to shaping and defining music and culture all over the world. We are pleased to recognize Questlove with this special Peabody honor and are so happy to have the iconic and brilliant Angela Davis engage Questlove in conversations about his work and these historicals.
According to Peabody, the Trailblazer award recognizes visionaries whose innovative storytellings affect culture and affect social change. “In addition to Brunson, former recipients include the first winner Issa Rae.
Thompson was chosen because of his work as a founder and drummer of the roots and helped to revolutionize hip -hop with live instrumentation and mix genres. He is also recognized for his work as a storyteller, including Oscar and Peabody-winning Doctor “Summer of Soul”, who looked at Harlem Culture Festival in 1969. More recently he was nominated for “Sly Lives! (Aka burden by Black Geni),” and “Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 years of SNL.
Noted Peabody: “Through his books, teaching and curatorial work, he has deepened the public’s understanding of the intersections between music, race and social change. By using his platform to advocate for representation, capital and cultural preservation, Questlove has exceeded the role of musician to become an important cultural archivist and social commentary, and secure to secure Creative Creativ
The Peabody Trailblazer Award will be awarded at the Sun Rose Hotel (formerly Pendry Hotel) in Los Angeles. The presenting sponsor for the event is Dropbox and supportive sponsors are Onyx Collective and Amazon.
Peabody, which is based on GRANDY COLLEGE OF Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, annually honors programming in the categories entertainment, documentary, news, podcast/radio, art, children and adolescents, engrossing and interactive media and programming of public service.
Last 2025 Peabody Awards The ceremony, hosted by Roy Wood Jr., took place on June 1 at Beverly Wilshire, as Andrea Mitchell was honored with Peabody Career Achievement Award and “Saturday Night Live” was honored with Peabody Institutional Award.
