Amazon’s Audible has named 15 new “voice legends” to its Narrator Hall of Fame, recognizing voice talent who have “redefined the listening experience” and engaged audiobook fans worldwide.
The group of 15 honorees have performed hundreds of audiobook titles and, according to Audible, have become as recognizable to fans as the stories they tell.
The 2026 Narrator Hall of Fame inductees are: Julia Whelan, Ray Porter, Edoardo Ballerini, JD Jackson (aka Jakobi Diem), January LaVoy, Hillary Huber, Saskia Maarleveld, Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton), Will Damron, Ramon De Ocampo, Soneela Nankani, Emily Woo Zeller, Thérèse Plummer, Steve West (aka Shane East) and Janina Edwards.
Audible launched the Narrator Hall of Fame in 2018 with the first cohort including legendary names like Jim Dale, Alan Cumming, Robin Miles, Andi Arndt and Vikas Adam. The 2026 class marks the revival of the Narrator Hall of Fame on a biennial basis.
The company will celebrate the 2026 class at a ceremony April 8, 2026, at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City, hosted by Vikas Adam.
Among the honorees is Julia Whelan, who has been called “The Adele of Audiobooks.” The author, actor and narrator’s voice has “become synonymous with modern literary fiction and romance,” according to Audible.
Ray Porter is a fan-favorite in sci-fi and thrillers, having narrated franchises including “Project Hail Mary.” According to Audible, his fanbase demonstrates how narrators have become destinations as fans seek out his voice specifically, regardless of author or title.
The class of 2026 honorees also includes JD Jackson (aka Jakobi Diem) is a two-time Audie Award winner and literary fiction standout and is known as the “Voice of Black Romance,” per Audible. January LaVoy has performed over 500 audiobooks and is joining Audible’s Hall of Fame alongside her husband and fellow honoree Will Damron.
In a statement, Whelan said: “This honor is a celebration of creativity and talent, and highlights that essential, elemental part of being human: how telling stories unites us, creating intimacy, empathy, connection, and, most importantly, relationships. I’m thrilled to be included.” Fellow honoree Edoardo Ballerini commented: “Fourteen years ago, Audible changed the course of my career and life. Induction into the Narrator Hall of Fame is an honor that resonates on such a deeply personal level, it’s hard to put into words. I’m beyond grateful, and truly humbled.”
In 2025, Audible listeners consumed nearly 6 billion hours of content, with total listening time up more than 11% year over year, according to the company.
“For decades, Audible has worked with some of the most talented narrators in the world: artists who transform beloved stories into performances that stick with listeners long after they’re finished,” Audible chief content officer Rachel Ghiazza said in a statement. “The Hall of Fame narrators we’re honoring this year have shaped millions of listening experiences around the world and represent the best of the art form. Narration is the craft at the heart of our stories, and we’re thrilled to celebrate these extraordinary voices who are essential in bringing incredible audio storytelling to customers.”
To qualify for induction, each Hall of Fame narrator must have at least 50 titles on Audible, have demonstrated versatility across genres and styles, and received “rave reviews” from fans. In addition, they must be actively involved in the narrator community and have helped to “evolve the art form,” Audible says.
The latest inductees join the previous voice actors in Audible’s Narrator Hall of Fame: Vikas Adam, Andi Arndt, Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Alan Cumming, Jim Dale, Luke Daniels, Jonathan Davis, Dion Graham, George Guidall, Edward Herrmann, Katherine Kellgren, Lorelei King, Robin Miles, Frank Muller, Prentice Onayemi, Davina Porter, Barbara Rosenblat, Bahni Turpin, Simon Vance and Rick Lewis,
variety.com
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