Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis Share the Stage at Billboard Women in Music 2026

A surprise that landed

Mariah the Scientist brought one of the cleaner moments of the night at Billboard Women in Music 2026. Her medley of "Rainy Days" and "Is It a Crime" was already a solid choice, but the appearance of Kali Uchis as a surprise guest pushed the performance into something more memorable. According to Billboard, the event took place at the Hollywood Palladium on Wednesday, April 29.

The bigger picture

The two artists share an instinct for emotional precision, and placing them together on a stage built around modern R&B felt less like a stunt and more like a genuine curatorial decision. Whether it signals anything beyond the night itself remains to be seen.

Who else was honored

The 2026 edition of Billboard Women in Music recognized a broad range of artists. The honorees included EJAE, REI AMI, AUDREY NUNA, Kehlani, Teyana Taylor, Ella Langley, Thalia, Zara Larsson, Laufey, and Tate McRae. The event was presented by Honda Stage.