‘American Idol’ Music Supervisor Robin Kaye to Be Honored Posthumously at Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
The Guild of Music Supervisors will posthumously honor Robin Kaye, the longtime American Idol music supervisor who was killed in a home invasion last year, with its Legacy Award at the 16th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards. The ceremony will take place Feb. 28 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kaye, who was fatally shot alongside her husband, Thomas DeLuca, at their Encino, California home in July 2025, was a pioneering figure in music supervision and a widely respected leader within the industry. Authorities have described the incident as a burglary-related crime. A 22-year-old suspect, Raymond Boodarian, was arrested in connection with the killings but was later deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered committed to a state hospital.
Over the course of her career, Kaye helped shape the sound of some of television’s most influential programming. She spent many years working on American Idol, where she played a key role in guiding finalists through song selection, licensing, and performance preparation. Her work helped define the musical identity of the long-running competition series and set standards that continue to influence music-driven television today.
The Guild’s Legacy Award recognizes a music supervisor whose career has had a lasting and meaningful impact on the profession. Previous recipients include Allan Mason, Bonnie Greenberg, Mitchell Leib, Pilar McCurry, Maureen Crowe, Bob Hunka, Joel Sill, Gary Lemel, and Chris Montan.
In announcing the honor, Guild Vice President Heather Guibert reflected on Kaye’s contributions both professionally and personally. “Robin was a valued board member and Vice President of the Guild of Music Supervisors, a respected pioneer of our music supervision and sync community, and a thoughtful friend and mentor to us all,” Guibert said. “Her passion for music and dedication to the craft will forever be remembered.”
The ceremony will also recognize Raphael Saadiq with the Guild’s Icon Award, which honors artists whose work has significantly shaped the relationship between music and visual storytelling. Past recipients of the Icon Award include Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach, Kenny Loggins, Marc Shaiman, and Stephen Schwartz.
Saadiq, an Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song for Mudbound, has enjoyed a career spanning more than three decades. He first rose to prominence as a founding member of Tony! Toni! Toné! before establishing himself as a celebrated solo artist, producer, songwriter, and composer whose work crosses genres and mediums.
“Music plays such an important role in how stories are told on screen,” Saadiq said in a statement. “To be recognized by a community that celebrates that connection means a great deal to me.”
The Guild of Music Supervisors Awards will celebrate both Kaye’s enduring legacy and Saadiq’s far-reaching influence, underscoring the vital role music plays in shaping film and television storytelling.
