NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Award-winning journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien will serve as the 2026 Honorary Muse for the Krewe of Muses Carnival parade.
O’Brien will join the all-female krewe as it parades along the Uptown New Orleans route on Thursday, February 12, 2026. She will lead the parade atop the krewe’s signature 17-foot-tall, fiber-optic red high-heel shoe float, 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,” O’Brien said. She said she was drawn to the Krewe of Muses because they celebrate all voices and its community impact aligns with her work.
Selection honors trailblazing women
The krewe, in its 26th year, selects honorary muses based on honoring trailblazing women whose significance goes beyond their own gain to become change agents of the community, 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,” Rosenberg said. She said O’Brien embodies what the krewe is about: the celebration of the arts, creativity, and service.
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“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,” Rosenberg said.
Award-winning career in journalism
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. She tells stories of often marginalized people while amplifying social justice issues across the world.
Founded in 2000, the Krewe of Muses comprises over 1,400 members and is celebrated for its satirical floats, philanthropic efforts, and signature glittered shoe throw. Named after the nine daughters of Zeus, the organization integrates the community’s artistic and cultural resources into the Mardi Gras tradition.
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