Janet Jackson hit the stage at the 2026 BET Awards on Sunday evening (June 28) to present a special award.
The 60-year-old entertainer “All For You” singer delivered a speech to honor Teyana Taylor with the Icon of the Year award.
During her speech, Janet praised the One Battle After Another star as she cried while watching on.
“It seems like only yesterday a rose from Harlem grew out of the concrete. and blossomed into our Icon of the Year. I’ve enjoyed watching you, as you know, over the years. Watching you defy expectations, rewrite the rules and lead with an unstoppable work ethic,” she said. “You possess an unflinching perfectionism, a devotion woven into everything you touch. Your focus and vision summon into being what most would call impossible. You carry a calling from above, and the world is made more luminous with the art that you have given it. This year, it belongs to you.”
She also commended Teyana on all of her accomplishments, all while being a mom.
“Grammy nomination for your latest album, Escape Room. A host of nominations for your layered performance in the Oscar-winning film, One Battle After Another. You stood toe to toe with some of major heavyweights, thespians in our industry, and you picked up a coveted Golden Globe for best supporting actress. All of that while raising two beautiful girls, your greatest accomplishment.”
During her acceptance speech, Teyana fangirled over Janet presenting her with the award.
“Oh my God. B-tch, I’m gagging,” she said. “They did not tell me Janet was coming, b-tch, and it’s so crazy because when Kehlani said, ‘Janet is here,’ I said, b-tch, is that the surprise? I wasn’t sure!”
“I love you so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you for always seeing me. Thank you for every text, every hug, every talk. You are my biggest inspiration,” Teyana added. “Everybody who knows me know how I feel about you, the fact that you even took up the time to be here to celebrate with me, this is crazy. I love you so much. Like, you don’t even understand.”
Teyana continued, looking back at her time in the industry and wondering “if I was supposed to feel uncomfortable saying that title out loud.”
“But no, I worked my ass off 20 years for this,” she shared. “So I’m not accepting what I’ve earned with arrogance; I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude. And this year alone, I continue to give the world the artist, actress, director, choreographer, creative director, stylist, designer, writer, producer and chef!”
“Most of my career has been spent building my own dream while helping somebody else build theirs because I believe there’s room for all of us to win, even if that means pouring from my own cup into someone else’s so they can overflow, not because I had to, but because that’s just who I am. That’s pretty damn iconic if you ask me. Because this business can be very wicked.”
“It teaches us to compete. But I’ve never believed that my success had to cause someone else’s theirs. If I know something, I should teach it. If I open the door, I should hold it. If I have a platform, I should make room for another voice,” she added. “Thank you, because I believe greatness isn’t measured by how many people stand beneath you. It’s measured by how many people stand beside you because you’re willing to reach back. That’s the only legacy I care about.”
Teyana also thanked her parents and her daughters, Junie and Rue, calling them “my greatest masterpiece.”
“If one day people remember me as an icon, I pray the two of you, always remember me simply as home,” she said. “Mommy loves you so, so much. I love you, and you better be watching me and off them goddamn phones, per usual.”
If you missed it, check out photos of Teyana on the carpet earlier in the night, as well as pics of Janet walking the carpet.
See more photos from Teyana Taylor and Janet Jackson on stage at the BET Awards…
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