The 2023 Black Music Honors Was An Affair To Remember

Despite the mishaps circulating on social media, the 2023 Black Music Honors was a beautiful celebration of us.

The 2023 Black Music Honors were filmed in Atlanta on Friday (May 19), and what an event it was. This year’s show honored the likes of Missy Elliott, SWV, Evelyn “Champagne” King, and Jeffrey Osborne, with performances from Anthony Hamilton, Robin Thicke, Sevyn Streeter, Jacquees, Queen Naija, David Banner, Juvenile, The Shindellas, 702, and others.

Most of what went down was made public as clips from the audience began to surface across social media over the weekend. Sevyn, Lil’ Mo, and Sheléa paid tribute to SWV with a chilling rendition of “Weak.”

Le’Andria Johnson was set to perform Fantasia’s “Free Yourself,” but stopped midsong multiple times because it appeared she didn’t know the words. The audience chimed in as a means of assistance while simultaneously throwing shade by singing, “If you don’t know it, then don’t sing it please.” Lil’ Mo later took the stage solo to sing the record. It’s unclear if both versions will air during the final telecast.

Elliott was presented with the Innovator Award. After reliving the moment on Instagram, she wrote, “Thank you to everyone at the Black Music Honors for this Music Innovator Icon award! I never take these moments for granted it warms my HEART to even be ACKNOWLEDGED! I am honored to be apart of the CULTURE & MUSIC. I still punch myself a lot because it do still feel like a dream at times.” Her tribute featured performances from longtime friends, Tweet and Lady Wray. The southern hummingbird also performed “Oops (Oh My).” Juvenile later took the stage with “Slow Motion.”

Black Music Honors teased other performances on Twitter, including Jacquees and Queen Naija linking up to honor SWV’s “You’re Always On My Mind.” Upon receiving her flowers from host DeRay Davis, Roxanne Shanté summed up the moment by simply expressing, “So my weekend went just like this. I can’t complain nor will I explain.”

Following a mini Destiny’s Child reunion with BMH host LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, the latter shared, “I’m so proud of my sister you did an amazing job [LeToya] your such a natural on the stage of course. @blackmusichonors I must say last nights show was so good THANK YALL FOR HAVING ME. Congratulations to my babies [SWV]. ITS ABOUT TIME THE INDUSTRY GIVE

YALL YOUR FLOWERS!”

The two-hour special will premiere on the Stellar Network on June 3 at 8 p.m. ET with a national broadcast syndication to follow from Saturday, June 10 to Sunday, July 2. The show will also air on Bounce TV on June 19.

By Mya Abraham