Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, musician, filmmaker, author, and cultural curator can add another title to the growing list of accolades: Peabody award-winning. The famous drummer was honored with a 2025 Peabody Trailblazer award. This prestigious award recognizes visionaries whose storytelling reshapes culture and drives social change. Questlove’s multifaceted career and influence does just that. Questlove’s body of work spans producing, writing, film, podcasts, and cultural criticism.

Quest’s game night cohost and “Abbott Elementary” creator and star, Quinta Brunson, presented the award and said, “I am so honored to be here tonight to present an award from one Philly kid to another Philly kid. By using his platform to advocate for representation, equity, and cultural preservation, Questlove has transcended the role of musician to become a vital cultural archivist.”

Questlove used his acceptance speech to encourage creatives to create now. He said, “Now is the time more than ever… because it’s cathartic, it’s therapeutic, but it’s necessary. And right now, joy is an act of rebellion, so I thank you for celebrating me with this honor.” 

Questlove may be known as a drummer, but his work as a part of The Roots, cemented him in the Hip Hop hall of fame. His introduction to live instrumentation in Hip Hop as well as blending genres, helped shape the Neo-Soul movement (he helped introduce the world to Jill Scott) and influenced artists throughout the years. Expanding his musical prowess into film and other multimedia projects has allowed Questlove to showcase a level of detail and expertise that’s hard to match.

It’s why his documentary “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” that revived the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and highlighted the erasure of Black artistry from the zeitgeist received an Oscar, Grammy, and Peabody.

As the cultural conversation carries on around whose stories are elevated and how, this recognition places Questlove in a hefty lineage of creatives who see art as activism and music as a vehicle for culture and change. Congratulations Questlove!