Usher Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award at 2024 BET Awards

Usher had a hell of an evening on the 2024 BET Awards.

Through the occasion on Sunday, June 30, the R&B celebrity, 45, acquired the Lifetime Achievement Award — an esteemed honor that is been beforehand granted to icons like Prince, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah and Lionel Richie — in celebration of his epic musical legacy.

A roster of shock friends took the stage throughout “Tradition’s Greatest Night time” to honor Usher, beginning with Infantile Gambino, a.ok.a. Donald Glover — and Keke Palmer! — performing an acapella model of the legend’s 2001 hit “U Do not Need to Name.”

The tribute medley then continued with a nostalgic look again at Usher’s epic discography with performances from Palmer (“U Make Me Wanna”), Coco Jones (“There Goes My Child”), Marsha Ambrosius (“Celebrity”), Chlöe (“Good Kisser”), Tinashe (“Good & Gradual”), Teyana Taylor (“Unhealthy Lady” that includes a dance quantity from Victoria Monét) and Latto (“Yeah!”).

Summer time Walker additionally carried out her Usher collaboration “Good Good,” that includes 21 Savage, which was nominated for greatest collaboration and greatest video on the BET Awards.

Usher then took the stage to simply accept his coveted award — which was introduced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, L.A. Reid, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis — as his spouse, Jenn Goicoechea Raymond, cheered him on from the entrance row.

The Grammy-winning performer started by joking if it was “too early” to obtain his prestigious honor, saying, “I’m nonetheless operating and gunning and I nonetheless love this s— like I did once I was 8 years outdated.”

He then spoke about his private expertise rising up with out his father whereas sharing a reputation with him, including, “I used to be making an attempt to make sense of this identify {that a} man gave me that didn’t stick round as a result of he didn’t love — or at the very least that was my notion of it.”

“As a result of I needed to reside lengthy sufficient to grasp that it’s a must to have a forgiving coronary heart with a view to perceive the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America,” Usher continued. “And my father, he was a product of that. He made lots of choices — he made lots of selections — and the one which most likely harm and helped me on the similar time was to remain away.”

Usher’s speech later minimize out, apparently for language that then devolved into audio points, however he concluded by tying the whole lot into parenting his personal youngsters and the significance of current fathers, declaring 2024 “the yr of the daddy.”

“Although there wasn’t a dad to name, although there was not anyone to select up and say you gonna be alright, that is what you do, that is what’s OK, that is what isn’t… It led me to be the daddy that I’m to my boys, Cinco and Naviyd, who’re right here at this time,” he stated, additionally displaying like to his “little ones,” Sire and Sovereign, at house.

“It’s 100% all about my youngsters and ensuring you perceive that your goals can come true for those who’re really dedicated,” he concluded, additionally thanking his workforce, Babyface, Reid and extra collaborators who’ve contributed to his profitable 30+ yr profession. “If you’re dedicated to one thing and you discover ardour and also you keep dedicated to it, this might doubtlessly be you. This could possibly be your second.”

“Not on this stage as a result of I’m the one one who gonna have this one,” the R&B crooner joked, “however you could possibly have a second like this too.”

BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award salutes “particular achievements and distinguished public service,” trade trailblazers “who’ve powerfully shifted tradition and the leisure trade,” per a press launch. And after an already big yr, it is solely becoming that Usher acquired it subsequent.

“The connection between BET and Usher spans many years, from his a number of appearances on 106 & Park, to most lately profitable the Entertainer of the Yr trophy on the fifty fifth NAACP Picture Awards,” stated Connie Orlando, BET EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Technique, in a press assertion.

She continued, “From his chart-topping hits, electrifying performances and unforgettable vocals to his signature strikes and sound, Usher continues to face on tradition, setting new requirements for the music trade and Black excellence.”

Along with his Lifetime Achievement Award, Usher was additionally nominated for 4 BET Awards this yr, together with album of the yr for his newest studio LP, Coming House. He ended up taking house the award for greatest male R&B/pop artist.

The “U Bought It Unhealthy” singer has had a banner yr to date, which features a record-breaking Tremendous Bowl halftime headlining present, the discharge of his ninth studio album, the twentieth anniversary of his diamond-certified Confessions album and the announcement of his upcoming Previous Current Future tour — all of which follows his ultra-successful Las Vegas residency that concluded in December.

The 2024 BET Awards are airing reside on June 30 at 8 p.m. ET/ PT reside from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.