Tyla's CHANEL Nominated for Soul Train Awards R&B Category, Mzansi Reacts
- Tyla scored a Soul Train Awards nomination for R&B/Soul Song of the Year with her hit CHANEL, competing against heavy hitters like Tems, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber
- The Soul Train Awards returned after a three-year hiatus, with fans voting for the winner for the first time
- Social media erupted in debate over whether CHANEL belongs in the R&B category, with many questioning the nomination
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South African superstar Tyla has landed yet another international nomination, this time at the 2026 Soul Train Awards, where her hit track CHANEL is in the running for R&B/Soul Song of the Year. The announcement, shared by music platform Genius on Instagram on 6 October 2026, quickly stirred debate online about whether the song even fits the category.
The Soul Train Awards are back after a three-year hiatus, and this year marks a first: fans get to decide who takes home the trophy. Voting is open until 16 October 2026, with the winner set to be revealed on 27 November during the live show.
The category is stacked. Tyla faces fellow African powerhouse Tems, who received recognition for What You Need, alongside Bruno Mars (I Just Might), Kehlani (Folded), Brent Faiyaz (Butterflies), Daniel Caesar (Who Knows) and Justin Bieber (YUKON). It is a competitive field, but Tyla is no stranger to the global stage — she already has two Grammy Awards to her name.
"Is CHANEL even R&B?"
The nomination sparked a lively argument online, with many fans questioning whether CHANEL, an upbeat track that has largely been associated with Afrobeats, belongs in an R&B category at all.
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@eyty_queen kicked things off with a blunt take:
"Tyla? R&B? What? 😂"
@giftiv45 agreed, replying to the same thread:
"Like What??? They just have to put her in any category 🤦♂️😂😂"
@crazy_.wiseman added:
"🤣crazyy, no shades tho"
@joe.thane offered a more measured take:
"@eyty_queen Yes. But NOT for that song. She actually has several R&B gems in her discography."
@wickedbeautybykp took a nostalgic turn:
"Take me back to the 90s please what is thisssssss."
@leanjuicebox weighed in on who should win:
"Literally if anyone wins besides Tyla, Olivia Dean, Chris Brown it'll be a win in my book."
In the comments section of the Genius post, @tre4rmdc threw their weight behind Kehlani, writing:
"Is this really a question? FOLDED all day 🏆"
Whether or not fans agree with the genre classification, Tyla's inclusion in such a prestigious awards category is a testament to the reach her music continues to have across the globe.
Fans defend Tyla after VMAs outfit
In a previous report from Briefly News, Tyla’s VMAs red carpet look in a bra and skirt divided fans, as trolls called her “allergic to clothes” and supporters defended the South African star.
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Source: Briefly News
