Lauryn Hill receives all-star BET Awards tribute from SZA and more
DIRECT ANSWER: Lauryn Hill receives all-star tribute at the BET Awards 2026, where she accepted the Living Legend Icon Award after a marathon performance spanning her catalog. Queen Latifah, SZA, Doechii, Doja Cat, Nas, Common and more recreated Fugees and Miseducation hits before Hill closed the show with "Everything Is Everything."
Key Takeaways
- Lauryn Hill was honored with the Living Legend Icon Award at the BET Awards 2026 on June 28.
- An all-star tribute covered songs from the Fugees and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, including "Ready or Not," "Fu-Gee-La," and "Lost Ones."
- Performers included Queen Latifah, SZA, Doechii, Doja Cat, Nas, Common, Lizzo, Tems, Tierra Whack, and members of Hill's family.
- Hill surprised the crowd with "Ex-Factor" and closed the telecast with "Everything Is Everything."
- Teyana Taylor and Sylvia Rhone also received special icon awards during the ceremony.
What Happened at Lauryn Hill's BET Awards Tribute?
At the BET Awards 2026, Lauryn Hill was honored with the Living Legend Icon Award and a robust all-star performance featuring Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, SZA, Common and Queen Latifah, among many others. The tribute unfolded as a rolling medley of Hill's most influential work rather than a single spotlight moment.
SZA and Doechii opened the sequence with a big-band version of the Fugees' "Ready or Not." Tierra Whack and Tems followed with "Fu-Gee-La," and Hill's daughter Selah sang the title track from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Doja Cat performed "Superstar" and brought out Nas for their collaboration "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)," with Doja Cat on the chorus.
YG Marley sang his late father Bob Marley's verse on Hill's duet "Turn Your Lights Down Low." Lizzo, dressed in a nod to Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" video look, performed the classic with Rapsody. Zion Marley emerged to "To Zion" before segueing into his song "Marching." Alexia Jayy sang "Killing Me Softly" and handed the finale to Queen Latifah and Common for "Lost Ones."
Which Artists Joined the Lauryn Hill Tribute?
Beyond the headline names, the tribute drew from multiple generations of hip-hop, R&B and soul. Tierra Whack, Tems, YG Marley, Lizzo, Rapsody, Zion Marley and Alexia Jayy all took part alongside the core ensemble of Doechii, Nas, Doja Cat, SZA, Common and Queen Latifah.
That breadth reflected Hill's reach across eras. Fugees classics sat beside solo landmarks, family appearances and contemporary stars who grew up on her catalog. For viewers tracking live awards coverage, see more Streaming & TV Alerts for ceremony highlights and broadcast updates.
What Award Did Lauryn Hill Receive?
Hill received the Living Legend Icon Award at the 2026 BET Awards. After a commercial break, she took the stage to perform "Ex-Factor," telling the audience she had not been scheduled to sing but stepped in when someone bowed out of the tribute. Ice Cube then returned to present her with the award.
She closed the BET Awards with a rendition of "Everything Is Everything." Other musicians receiving special honors included Teyana Taylor, who was presented the Icon of the Year award by Janet Jackson, and music executive Sylvia Rhone, who received the Ultimate Icon Award from Kelly Rowland.
Why Does Lauryn Hill's BET Tribute Matter Now?
The tribute landed as a rare televised celebration of an artist whose solo debut still shapes modern R&B and hip-hop. Hill first rose with the Fugees before The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill became a defining work in both genres, making a living-legend salute on culture's biggest night a statement about enduring impact.
By assembling current hitmakers with peers and family, BET framed Hill's legacy as active rather than archival. Full performance details and song-by-song coverage are documented in Variety's report from the June 28 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.