Usher gets his flowers this year. The R&B icon was the man of the hour at the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday (June 30) as the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Before Usher accepted the award, BET built on the moment with an epic tribute set featuring a host of artists doing their best Usher impressions, traversing anthems from the 45-year-old's decorated discography.
While Usher may not be rocking the sandals and white linens of Childish Gambino, the R&B legend crushed a soft cover of “U Don't Have to Call” in 2002 before Keke Palmer joined him on stage. Palmer took it back to 1997's “You Make Me Wanna…”, which landed on Usher's sophomore single My way album. The Illinois native put her dancing skills to the test and ended up stripping down to her white kicks, jeans and Braves hat.
Summer Walker made a guest appearance at Usher's 2023 I'm coming home album, and delivered her languid verse on their sultry collaboration “Good Good,” which also features 21 Savage. Sans Savage and with Usher watching from the front row, Summer and her troupe of dancers in black corsets and matching combat boots held down the fort.
The performers came from the crowd as Coco Jones wowed the crowd at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles by belting through Usher's 'There Goes My Baby'. The up-and-coming singer danced seductively in front of Jennifer Goicoechea (Usher's wife) and then made the 45-year-old luminary stand up before returning to the stage.
“Superstar” is a fan favorite from Usher's 2004 single Confessions classic, and Marsha Ambrosius stepped up for the tender cover. Chloe Bailey joined the party, singing 'Good Kisser' in a shiny white leotard.
With “Nasty” climbing the charts, Tinashe fittingly made a cameo, covering Usher's “Nice & Slow.” Nashe put her own spin on the My way classic and added a dance routine that the singer himself seemed to approve of.
Victoria Monét and Teyana Taylor then teamed up in a tag team, performing “Bad Girl,” which sent the camera reeling while trying to keep up with the duo's gymnastic acrobatics.
Latto closed the tribute show with a huge “Yeah!” without guest appearances from Lil Jon and Ludacris. it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks in 2004. Big Latto even tweaked some of the lyrics to better suit what he brings to the table. “Big ass and some double-Ds,” he raps.
Watch the medley honoring Usher at the 2024 BET Awards below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/usher-tribute-2024-bet-awards-childish-gambino-victoria-monet-1235721365/