{"id":500419,"date":"2026-06-29T02:31:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T02:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/500419\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T02:31:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T02:31:16","slug":"janet-jackson-surprises-teyana-taylor-with-bet-awards-honor-as-druski-makes-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/500419\/","title":{"rendered":"Janet Jackson surprises Teyana Taylor with BET Awards honor as Druski makes history"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Teyana Taylor<\/a> fought back tears Sunday after an emotional surprise at the BET Awards:<\/a>Janet Jackson<\/a> walked onto the stage to present Taylor with the Icon of the Year Award.<\/p>\n

Taylor, visibly stunned as Jackson received a standing ovation at Los Angeles\u2019 Peacock Theater, embraced the music legend before thanking one of her biggest inspirations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did not tell me Janet was coming,\u201d Taylor said through tears. \u201cThere will be no me without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Presenting the award, Jackson praised Taylor\u2019s relentless work ethic and artistic range, highlighting her Golden Globe win for best supporting actress<\/a> in \u201cOne Battle After Another\u201d and calling her gifts \u201cGod-given.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Icon of the Year Award recognizes a creative force whose influence is shaping culture. Taylor has evolved from a multiplatinum recording artist into an award-winning actor, director, producer and choreographer.<\/p>\n

Accepting the honor, Taylor reflected on her two-decade career. <\/p>\n

\u201cI worked my (expletives) off 20 years,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I\u2019m not accepting what I\u2019ve earned with arrogance. I\u2019m accepting what I\u2019ve earned with gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Druski opens BET Awards with dramatic entrance<\/p>\n

Druski<\/a> made a grand entrance to kick off the BET Awards<\/a> on Sunday, descending from the rafters in a harness as a choir filled the theater with a rendition of Kirk Franklin\u2019s \u201cRevolution,\u201d setting the tone for a night celebrating music, comedy and culture.<\/p>\n

The comedian and digital creator made history by becoming the youngest host of the ceremony, where Lauryn Hill<\/a> and Teyana Taylor<\/a> will be honored. The show\u2019s opening performances featured Kehlani, who sang \u201cFolded\u201d with Jamie Foxx and his daughter, Anelise Estelle Foxx, on guitar. Don Toliver also performed his hits \u201cE85\u201d and \u201cBody.\u201d <\/p>\n

Accepting the award for best female R&B\/pop artist, Kehlani admitted she hadn\u2019t prepared a speech, instead marveling that \u201cJanet Jackson is here,\u201d before telling the icon she was \u201creally honored to be here\u201d among the night\u2019s talent.<\/p>\n

Druski, 31, surpassed Kevin Hart,<\/a> who previously held the distinction as the BET Award\u2019s youngest host when he emceed in 2011.<\/p>\n

Rick Ross and French Montana performed. Doechii and Queen Latifah were among the stars expected to take the stage.<\/p>\n

Who is nominated?<\/p>\n

Cardi B<\/a> led this year\u2019s BET Awards with six nominations, while Kendrick Lamar<\/a> and Mariah the Scientist earned five nods each. Doechii, Doja Cat, Clipse, Teyana Taylor, Olivia Dean and Latto followed with four nominations apiece.<\/p>\n

The album of the year race includes Cardi B\u2019s \u201cAm I the Drama?,\u201d Clipse\u2019s \u201cLet God Sort Em Out,\u201d J. Cole\u2019s \u201cThe Fall-Off,\u201d Leon Thomas\u2019 \u201cMutt Deluxe: Heel,\u201d Mariah the Scientist\u2019s \u201cHearts Sold Separately,\u201d Tyler, the Creator\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Tap the Glass,\u201d Bruno Mars\u2019 \u201cThe Romantic,\u201d and Wale\u2019s \u201ceverything is a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several of the year\u2019s biggest hits were also in contention for song of the year, including Lamar and SZA\u2019s \u201cLuther,\u201d Leon Thomas\u2019 \u201cMutt,\u201d Doechii\u2019s \u201cDenial Is a River,\u201d and Mariah the Scientist\u2019s \u201cBurning Blue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who are the show\u2019s performers?<\/p>\n

The first wave of performers included Cardi B, Common, Doechii, Don Toliver, French Montana, Jill Scott, Kehlani, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Tems, T.I. and The War And Treaty.<\/p>\n

Hip-hop pioneer MC Lyte returned as the show\u2019s announcer.<\/p>\n

Druski brings his improvisational style and internet-born comedy to the show<\/p>\n

He became one of entertainment\u2019s fastest-rising stars through his viral sketches before expanding into sold-out comedy tours and collaborations with artists including Drake<\/a> and Snoop Dogg,<\/a> as well as appearances alongside figures like Tom Brady<\/a> and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up watching the BET Awards,\u201d Druski said. \u201cTo know the comedic legends that hosted before me set the bar so high, I\u2019m just grateful to be a part of the history. But I\u2019m still bringing my brand of comedy to the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who will receive special honors?<\/p>\n

Hill will receive the Living Legend Icon Award, which recognizes pioneers whose work has remained culturally essential across generations. She first emerged as a member of the Fugees before releasing her landmark solo debut, \u201cThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,\u201d a genre-defying album that became one of the most influential recordings in hip-hop and R&B history.<\/p>\n

BET called Hill \u201cthe very definition of a living legend,\u201d crediting her with reshaping music while inspiring generations of artists.<\/p>\n

Music executive Sylvia Rhone<\/a> will receive the Ultimate Icon Award for her groundbreaking leadership and lasting impact on the music industry.<\/p>\n

Rhone made history as the first Black woman to lead a major record company owned by a Fortune 500 corporation. During a career spanning decades, she helped develop artists including Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, Tracy Chapman, Brandy, Erykah Badu, Kid Cudi, Future, Travis Scott and Giveon.<\/p>\n

Are there any other standout nominees?<\/p>\n

The awards will feature the Pulse Award for creator and content series and the Fashion Vanguard Award for cultural impact in fashion. <\/p>\n

\"JanetTeyana Taylor, left, accepts the Icon of the Year award from presenter Janet Jackson during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetHost Druski appears during the opening of the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetTeyana Taylor appears onstage to accept the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetHost Druski speaks during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetTeyana Taylor accepts the Icon of the Year award during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetKehlani performs during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n

\"JanetAnelise Bishop, left, and Jamie Foxx perform during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Teyana Taylor fought back tears Sunday after an emotional surprise at the BET Awards:Janet…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":500420,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[156,157,111,139,69],"class_list":["post-500419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-entertainment","tag-music","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=500419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/500419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/500420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=500419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=500419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=500419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}