Lauryn Hill honored, Janet Jackson stuns Teyana Taylor and Druski makes history at BET Awards

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June 29, 2026

JONATHAN LANDRUM JR., Associated Press

Eight-time Grammy winner Hill was honored with performances at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater by SZA, Doechii, Lizzo, Queen Latifah, Common, her children, Selah Marley and Zion Marley.

Ms. Lauryn Hill performing live at The Mayan theatre in Los Angeles on 10/18/2019. (Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

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 honored with performances at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater from SZA, Doechii, Lizzo, Queen Latifah, Common, her children Selah Marley and Zion Marley, who revisited songs from Hill’s stellar catalog while she stood smiling, singing along and applauding throughout the tribute.

After she accepted the honor, Hill encouraged artists 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 recognizes 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.”

The original article details how Janet Jackson surprised Teyana Taylor at the same star-studded event.

Hill has previously been honored by the Smithsonian.

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