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Usher received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 BET Awards, although the superstar said it might be a little early.
The Grammy winner stood up and a group of artists performed his hits: Childish Gambino opened with “U Don’t Have to Call” and was accompanied by Keke Palmer, who led the way with “You Make Me Wanna…” Coco Jones showed up for her sexy performance of “There Goes My Baby” for Usher and his wife, Jenn Goicoechea.
Summer Walker took the stage to sing “Good Good,” Tinashe sang “Nice & Slow,” Marsha Ambrosius sang “Superstar,” and Chlöe performed “Good Kisser.” Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monet teamed up for “Bad Girl,” recreating the choreography Usher and Beyoncé had created for the song. Lato brought the “Yeah!” energy. In some ways, the tribute highlighted the women who headlined much of the evening, dominating the performances.
After performances by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, Usher accepted an award from music executive LA Reid.
“It’s definitely not easy to be here, but it’s worth it,” Arthur began his lengthy speech, reflecting on a career that has spanned more than three decades. Although he questioned the timing, he said, “I’m still alive and I’m still loving this (expletive) like I did when I was 8 years old.”
Because of censorship, the public was unable to hear much of his speech as it watched on television.
“I forgive everyone who has anything negative to say about me because it only inspires me to be myself,” he says at one point.
Earlier in the evening, Will Smith stood in a ring of fire and sang his single “You Can Make It” live for the first time, accompanied by the Friday and Sunday Service Gospel Choir.
“I don’t know who needs this right now,” Smith said. “But I’m here to tell you that you can do it.”
Midway through, Kirk Franklin joins, and the two rap together. “No one has it easy,” says Smith, who made a comeback two years ago after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. “There’s wisdom in that fire. Dance in your darkest hour.”
The upcoming presidential election was a big topic throughout the evening. After Childish Gambino presented Killer Mike with the Album of the Year award, the rapper spoke about his arrest and voting at the Grammys during his acceptance speech.
“Technically, I’m not supposed to be here. They handcuffed me and took me out of this building. But I want to tell you, look at God. Because I’m back, baby. I’m back and I’m winning,” he said during his speech. Killer Mike was arrested earlier this year for a physical altercation at the Grammys that he said was caused by an “overzealous” security guard; he was not charged for the incident.
“They’ll tell you, who we vote for is important,” he continued, “and that’s who we vote for on the big stage. That’s important, but it’s more important that you know who your city council member is, who your prosecutor is.”
Megan Thee Stallion opened the show by emerging from an egg, symbolizing her new musical rebirth, before launching into an energetic medley of her new singles “Hiss” and “Boa.”
“BET, Where Are The Girls At?” she greeted Monae and Jones in the crowd before launching into “Where Are The Girls At,” a song that has been a fan favorite since the release of her third studio album, “Megan,” on Friday.
Taraji P. Henson hosted the show at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. His opening monologue was a show. In a loose parody of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Henson sang “It’s About Us,” a song he released during his renewed feud with Drake.
“There’s no beef here tonight,” he joked, “Can we say it’s plant-based?”
Tyla, a superstar of the South African electronic music genre amapiano (an electronic music genre that originated in South Africa) from Johannesburg, won two honors at the show, firstly Best International Artist.
Later that night, he would receive the Best New Artist award. “This is crazy,” he said. “I just want to dedicate this to Africa.”
Monae, who won the Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year, set the bar high for her debut, condensing her entire show into a few minutes, including three outfits and a few songs, including “On My Mama” and “Alright.”
Sexyy Red then took the stage to perform her soft ballad “U My Everything” before moving into another set and costume change: “Get It Sexy” in front of an LED screen depicting the White House and dancers dressed as Secret Service.
The tone of the show shifted when two girls, rapper Van Van and Heiress Harris, daughter of rapper TI and singer Tiny Harris, performed their empowerment anthem “Be You” in the classroom.
The Best R&B/Pop Singer Award went to SZA, and the Best Actress Award went to Regina King, but she was not in attendance; the BET HER Award went to Monáe for “On My Mama,” and she brought her mother to accept the award.
Country artist Tanner Adell brings you “Buckle Bunny” and his new song “Cowboy Break My Heart.” GloRilla comes down to perform “Yeah Glo!” and “Wanna Be” with her dancers, the latter of which features a surprise appearance from Megan Thee Stallion. Shaboozey keeps things country with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” appearing on the song with rapper J-Kwon, creating an unexpected and rewarding cross-genre collaboration.
Lauryn Hill opened with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” followed by “Lost Ones,” and ended the night with her son YG Marley’s reggae-rock songs “Survival” and “Praise Jah In The Moonlight.” The best part: Wyclef Jean showed up, and the trio performed the Fugees’ “Fu-Gee-La” in front of the entire band. The third member of the Fugees, Pras, was absent. The rapper was convicted in April of multimillion-dollar criminal conspiracy and conspiracy to finance political campaigns spanning two presidents.
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