What you need to know:
- In a poignant moment, he spoke about his late father, Usher Raymond III, saying, “I really was searching for some identity, and I was doing that specifically because I was trying to make sense of this name that the man gave me but didn’t stick around because he didn’t love me.
- “At least, that was my perception of it because I had to live long enough to understand that you have to have a forgiving heart to understand the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America,” he continued.
Keke Palmer showcased her toned physique during a special tribute to Usher, celebrating his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Annual BET Awards on Sunday. The 30-year-old actress, known for her recent glamorous appearance at the Webby Awards in NYC, joined stars like Teyana Taylor and Coco Jones in a medley of Usher’s hits.
Palmer confidently flaunted her sculpted midriff onstage, performing Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna” (1997) in a sparkling cropped top with daring cutouts, paired with rhinestone-studded baggy jeans. Adding glittering bottoms underneath and a cap over her flowing shoulder-length hair, she later switched to an oversized white button-up shirt, complemented by white sneakers and black leather fingerless gloves.
In a standout moment, backup dancers helped Palmer reveal studded underwear beneath her trousers, prompting a thunderous applause from the audience under the bright stage lights. Earlier, she had joined Childish Gambino for a rendition of Usher’s “You Don’t Have To Call” (2001), where the Redbone artist was casually stylish in tan trousers and an unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt.
The performance continued with Summer Walker delivering “Good Good” in a strapless black leather bodysuit and over-the-knee boots, rounding out the star-studded homage to Usher’s illustrious career.
Later, he took to the stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award and delivered a speech that was somewhat interrupted by apparent censorship of profanity.
Usher reflected, “Getting here has definitely not been easy, but it has been worth it.”
“When I first started, I had a different idea about what I thought life was going to be. I started off as an artist in a group in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and my name was Cha Cha,” he shared.
In a poignant moment, he spoke about his late father, Usher Raymond III, saying, “I really was searching for some identity, and I was doing that specifically because I was trying to make sense of this name that the man gave me but didn’t stick around because he didn’t love me.”
“At least, that was my perception of it because I had to live long enough to understand that you have to have a forgiving heart to understand the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America,” he continued. “And my father, he was a product of that. He made a lot of decisions, he made a lot of choices. The one that probably hurt and helped me at the same time was to stay away.”
Usher passionately emphasized, “That’s part of the reason why I say this is the year of the father, where all the fathers have got to stand up for their sons and daughters and be the man that they need to be for them.”
He stressed the importance of forgiveness, declaring, “You’ve got to be willing to forgive, you’ve got to be willing to be open.”
“You’re standing before a man who had to forgive a man who never showed up, ever,” he added. “And look what I made with it. Look what I was able to usher in. That’s what’s real. That’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us men and women… I thank you all.”
Usher also took home the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist award, surpassing nominees including Brent Faiyaz, Bryson Tiller, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Drake, Fridayy, and October London.
“I’m really happy to be able to be in this category,” Usher expressed in his acceptance speech. “Obviously, tonight is a celebration of many things, being able to be recognized for this life achievement award that’s coming. I’m really happy to still be a part of the fight, you know what I’m saying.”
Turning his attention to fatherhood, Usher, who is a father of four, used his platform to honor fathers.
“To fathers tonight at home or in this audience, I would like you to stand up,” Usher requested. “Far too often, we get to this moment where we are able to say to our mothers, ‘Look, Mom, I made it.’ We don’t get a chance to say enough, ‘Dad, I did it.'”
“So this one is for all the men out there being generals to their sons and motivation for our future Black leaders, young men,” he concluded gratefully. “Thank you guys so much for this honor.”
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: info@falconposts.com Or follow the Falconposts on X Platform or WhatsApp for the latest updates.
