Kehlani Bids Farewell To “Folded” With Ethereal BET Awards Performance

When Jamie Foxx appeared onstage, alongside his daughter Anelise at the 2026 BET Awards, viewers didn’t know what to expect beyond the heartfelt father-daughter moment. Turns out, the beloved crooner was actually introducing Kehlani’s highly anticipated performance of her Grammy-winning ballad, “Folded.”

Since its June 2025 release, the songbird’s breakout hit has been heard by the masses and performed on every major stage. This time, however, Kehlani gives the record new life like a phoenix rising from the ashes while also saying goodbye to it.

Earlier in the evening, Kehlani told Billboard that she’s bidding farewell to “Folded.” She explained, “This is my final farewell [of] ‘Folded’ performance. It’s not like I’m never singing the song again, but this is my last hoorah big ‘Folded’ moment, and then we need to sing a new song.”

Backed by a full orchestra with Jamie remaining on the piano and Anelise on guitar, there was a dreamy, ethereal nature about this rendition of “Folded.” Viewers probably have the harpist to thank, considering they gave the record a Minnie Riperton “Loving You” flare.

In addition to the lack of a big dance number, it also seems that some lyrics were added or changed. During the bridge/outro, Kehlani cooed, “If I’m good enough/ I’m good enough for you/ You can decide if I’m good enough for you.” That subtle change gave a new layer of vulnerability to the indelible hit.

Funny enough, “Folded” was “the most accidental thing ever.” She was supposed to record a summertime smash and wound up making history. See the full performance above.

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