BET Awards 2024: Usher Honored, Will Smith Returns, and Elections Are a Priority

Usher accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on the 2024 BET Awards — even when the star said it can have been a little too soon.

The Grammy winner stayed on his feet as a parade of artists performed his hits — Childish Gambino opened the set with “U Don’t Have to Call,” joined by Keke Palmer, who led the show with “You Make Me Wanna…” Coco Jones emerged from the audience for a sultry rendition of “There Goes My Baby,” serenading Usher and his wife, Jenn Goicoechea.

Summer Walker took the stage for “Good Good,” Tinashe sang “Nice & Slow,” Marsha Ambrosius tackled “Superstar,” and Chlöe performed “Good Kisser.” Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monét teamed up for “Bad Girl,” mirroring Usher and Beyoncé’s choreography for his or her performance of the song. Latto brought the energy to “Yeah!” In a way, the tribute highlighted the ladies who carried much of the evening—dominating the performances.

After introductions by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, Usher accepted the award from musical director L.A. Reid.

“It definitely wasn’t easy getting here, but it was worth it,” Usher began his lengthy speech, reflecting on a profession that has spanned greater than three many years. He questioned the timing, saying, “I’m still running and gunning, and I still love this (expletive) as much as I did when I was 8 years old,” he said.

Most of his speech couldn’t be heard at home since it was censored.

“I forgive every single person who had anything negative to say about me because it only motivated me to be who I am,” he said at one point.

Earlier that evening, Will Smith stepped into the hearth — joined by Fridayy and the Sunday Service Gospel Choir — for a live performance of his latest single, “You Can Make It.”

“I don’t know who needs this right now,” Smith began his set. “But I’m here to tell you that you can do it.”

Kirk Franklin joined in halfway through, and then the 2 rapped together. “Nobody gets an easy ride,” Smith, who’s within the midst of a comeback after slapping Chris Rock on the Oscars two years ago, told the room. “There’s wisdom in that fire. Dance in your darkest moments.”

The upcoming presidential election was a huge topic of conversation throughout the show. After Childish Gambino presented Killer Mike with the album of the 12 months award for “Michael,” the rapper used his Grammy acceptance speech to deal with the arrest and voting.

“Technically, I shouldn’t be here. They handcuffed me and took me out of the building. But I want to tell you, look to God. Because I’m back, baby. I’m back and I’m winning,” he said in his acceptance speech. Killer Mike was arrested on the Grammys earlier this 12 months for a physical altercation he said was attributable to an “overzealous” security guard; he has not been charged within the incident.

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“They will tell you who we are voting for, that is important,” he continued his speech, “and who we are voting for on the big stage. That is important, but it is more important that you know who your city councilor is, who your prosecutor is.”

Megan Thee Stallion opened the show by emerging from an egg — a metaphor for her latest musical rebirth — before diving into an brisk medley of her latest singles “Hiss” and “Boa.”

“BET, where are my girls?” she said, shouting out Monet and Jones to the group before singing “Where Them Girls At” ​​— a song that has turn into an easy fan favorite because the release of her third studio album, “Megan,” on Friday.

Taraji P. Henson hosted a show on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Her opening monologue was a performance, Henson rapping “It’s About Us,” a loose parody of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which he released within the midst of his reignited feud with Drake.

“No beef today,” she joked. “Can we say plant-based?”

Tyla, a South African amapiano star from Johannesburg, won two awards on the show, the primary for Best International Act.

Later within the evening, she accepted the award for best latest artist. “This is crazy,” she said. “I just want to dedicate this to Africa.”

Monét, who won a Grammy for Best New Artist earlier this 12 months, made her BET debut and set the bar high for performances, condensing her entire set into a jiffy with three costume changes and two songs, “On My Mama” and “Alright.”

Sexyy Red then took the stage to perform her smooth bedroom ballad “U My Everything,” before moving to a different stage and changing costumes — performing “Get It Sexyy” in front of an LED screen depicting the White House and dancers dressed because the Secret Service.

The show modified its tone when VanVan and Heiress Harris, two child rappers, sang the anthem “Be You” through the school set. Harris is the daughter of rapper T.I. and singer Tina Harris.

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist was SZA and Best Actress was Regina King, each of whom weren’t present; the BET HER award went to Monét for “On My Mama,” an award she was encouraged to win by her mother.

Country musician Tanner Adell brought her “Buckle Bunny” and her latest song “Cowboy Break My Heart.” GloRilla emerged from the highest, coming right down to join her dancers on “Yeah Glo!” and “Wanna Be” — the latter of which featured a surprise appearance from Megan Thee Stallion. Shaboozey continued the country on “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and was joined by rapper J-Kwon, who appears on the track, for an unexpected and satisfying cross-genre collaboration.

Lauryn Hill closed the night, opening with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” and moving into “Lost Ones” before introducing her son YG Marley along with his reggae tracks “Survival” and “Praise Jah In The Moonlight.” Best of all: Wyclef Jean appeared, and the trio — in front of a full band — performed the Fugees’ “Fu-Gee-La.” Pras, the Fugees’ third member, was not present. The rapper, who has been accused of a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy spanning two presidencies, was convicted in April.