During the BET Awards 2026, Ms. Lauryn Hill was presented with the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award. The ceremony featured a tribute performance by a lineup of artists—including SZA, Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, Queen Latifah, Tems, Lizzo, Rapsody, Tierra Whack, and others. After the tributes, Hill unexpectedly joined the performers herself. Watch a replay of the whole segment below.
Performers highlighted Hill’s iconic catalog, drawing from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, The Score, and other seminal works. Standout moments included SZA and Doechii’s reinterpretation of the Fugees’ “Ready or Not,” Tierra Whack and Tems’s version of “Fu‑Gee‑La,” and Doja Cat’s dual showcase—first a rendition of “Superstar” and then a duet with Nas on “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That).” A heartfelt cover of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was delivered by War & Treaty, featuring Tanya Trotter, who previously shared the stage with Hill on Sister Act 2. The segment continued with performances by Lizzo, YG Marley, Selah, Rapsody, Zion Marley, and Alexia Jayy, culminating in a finale by Queen Latifah and Common, who closed the tribute with their cover of “Lost Ones.”
Following a commercial break, Hill surprised the audience by taking the stage herself, explaining, “I wasn’t even supposed to perform, but I heard somebody wasn’t doing this song,” before delivering a live rendition of “Ex‑Factor” backed by a band.
Hill received the award from Ice Cube, who praised her lasting impact. During her acceptance speech, she reflected, “I do this because I want y’all to have everything that I experienced. I had wonderful parents who loved on me, poured into me, and protected me. Once I realized that not everybody got to have that experience, I felt like it was my duty, my responsibility to share as much love and pour into people as music as I possibly could — and music was a way to do that.”
Hill also made a special appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards, honoring the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. She performed a rapid‑fire medley that mixed her collaboration “Nothing Even Matters” with D’Angelo and a cover of Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” The tribute featured appearances by Chaka Khan, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and Leon Bridges.
