Lauryn Hill honoured, Janet Jackson stuns Teyana Taylor at BET Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP):

After watching a 20-minute tribute celebrating her groundbreaking career, Lauryn Hill surprised the BET Awards audience Sunday with an impromptu performance of her 1998 classic Ex-Factor after accepting the Living Legend Icon Award before closing the show with Everything Is Everything.

Introduced by Ice Cube, the eight-time Grammy winner was honoured with performances at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater from SZA, Doechii, Lizzo, Queen Latifah, Common, and her children Selah Marley and Zion Marley, who revisited songs from Hill’s stellar catalogue while she stood smiling, singing along and applauding throughout the tribute.

After she accepted the honour, Hill encouraged artistes to embrace their gifts and remain true to their purpose.

“I fight for y’all,” Hill said. “And fighting for y’all is me fighting for myself; it’s me fighting for my children; it’s me fighting for my community.”

The Living Legend Icon Award recognises pioneers whose work has remained culturally essential across generations. Hill first emerged as a member of the Fugees before releasing her landmark solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, featuring classics including Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor, and Everything Is Everything.

TEYANA TAYLOR GETS EMOTIONAL SURPRISE

Teyana Taylor fought back tears Sunday after an emotional surprise at the BET Awards: Janet Jackson walked onto the stage to present Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award.

Taylor, visibly stunned as Jackson received a standing ovation, embraced the music legend before thanking one of her biggest inspirations.

The BET Awards paused to honour influential figures from music and entertainment who died over the past year, during an emotional in memoriam tribute, including gospel composer Richard Smallwood and music executive Clive Davis.

The tribute remembered Smallwood, Davis, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, D’Angelo and others whose contributions left a lasting mark on music, television and culture.

The BET Awards was hosted by comedian and digital creator Druski.

Hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte returned as the show’s announcer.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com