AceShowbiz - Lauryn Hill made history at the 2026 BET Awards by becoming the first-ever recipient of the newly established Living Legend Icon Award. The event took place at the Peacock Theater, where Hill closed the night with a powerful performance of "Everything Is Everything" following an extensive tribute celebrating her impact on music and culture.

The tribute was so extensive that it necessitated a commercial break to accommodate all the performances honoring Lauryn Hill. It began with The War and Treaty delivering an emotional rendition of "Joyful, Joyful," a callback to their shared performance in 1993 during their youth. This opening set the tone for a night filled with heartfelt homages from some of hip-hop's most influential artists.

Artists like SZA and Doechii performed "Ready or Not," while Tems and Tierra Whack brought intensity to "Fu-Gee-La." Doja Cat took on "Superstar," then teamed up with Nas for "If I Ruled the World," with Nas closing his segment by praising Hill as the greatest, a sentiment the audience widely shared.

The evening took a deeply personal turn when Hill’s daughter, Selah Marley, appeared on stage to sing the title track from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The emotional moment visibly moved Lauryn Hill, who was seen overcome with emotion. Next, her son YG Marley performed Bob Marley’s "Turn Your Lights Down Low," followed by another son, Zion Marley, who sang "To Zion," the song he inspired that celebrates his birth. These family performances gave the evening a warm, intimate feeling akin to a reunion.

The tribute continued with Lizzo and Rapsody delivering a standout performance of "Doo Wop (That Thing)." Closing the guest segment, Queen Latifah and Common performed "Lost Ones," with Queen Latifah rallying the crowd to "Respect the Queen of Jersey," which earned a thunderous standing ovation.

Unexpectedly, Lauryn Hill herself took the stage to perform "Ex-Factor," filling in for a last-minute cancellation. Later, Ice Cube, who had opened the night by recognizing Hill as one of the greatest voices in Black music history, returned to present her with the Living Legend Icon Award.

During her acceptance speech, Lauryn Hill emphasized her dedication to community, explaining that her fight for others is also a fight for herself. Following the heartfelt remarks, she closed the entire awards show with a stirring performance of "Everything Is Everything," leaving a lasting impression on all attendees as the credits rolled.

Billboard ranked the tribute to Lauryn Hill as the evening’s best performance, highlighting the 20-minute medley that featured her children alongside some of hip-hop’s biggest current stars. This combination made the moment truly unforgettable.

Looking ahead, Lauryn Hill is scheduled to begin a series of intimate acoustic shows worldwide, kicking off on July 2 in the Canary Islands, continuing to bring her timeless music to audiences around the globe.

This article is based on reporting originally published by AllHipHop.