NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Award-winning journalist and producer, Soledad O’Brien, will reign as the 2026 Honorary Muse. O’Brien will join the Krewe of Muses as it parades along the Uptown New Orleans route on Thursday, Feb. 12.
The all-female Carnival krewe, in its 26th year, will honor O’Brien with a once in a lifetime ride by leading the parade atop the krewe’s signature 17-foot-tall, fiber-optic red high-heel shoe float. She will be accompanied by her two daughters.
“New Orleans is a city that has brought me and the world so much joy and this esteemed honor gives me a chance to show my appreciation for the brilliance in its people, culture and history,” said O’Brien, adding how thrilled she is to be named the 2026 Honorary Muse. O’Brien said that beyond the parade, she was drawn to the Krewe of Muses because they celebrate all voices and its community impact aligns with her work.
Honoring trailblazing women, whose significance goes beyond their own gain to become change agents of the community is a large part of the selection process, according to Staci Rosenberg, founder of The Krewe of Muses.
“For years, Soledad’s skilled and empathic storytelling has gone from our televisions and into our hearts,” said Rosenberg. She added that O’Brien embodies what the Krewe is about: the celebration of the arts, creativity, and service. “We know how seriously committed Soledad is to women’s rights and journalism, and she knows that we are equally committed to that, as well as to having an unforgettable party on Muses’ Thursday.”
O’Brien is a nationally recognized journalist who has worked with CNN, NBC News, MSNBC, and PBS, earning 10 Emmy Awards, Multiple Peabody Awards, and an Edward R. Murrow Award. She is the founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions that focuses on documentary storytelling and underrepresented voices. Her current documentaries “The Devil is Busy” and “The Perfect Neighbor” have both been shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars; as she tells stories of often marginalized people, while amplifying social justice issues across the world.
