R&B legend Anita Baker was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 BET Awards on Sunday night. Before gracing the stage to accept her award, which was presented by Tyler Perry, Baker watched a celebratory visual that included kind words from Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige and Lalah Hathaway.
Host Jamie Foxx opened Baker’s tribute performance with a medley of her biggest hits, including “Angel” and “Giving You the Best that I Got.” Marsha Ambrosius showed off her sultry vocals as she performed “Caught Up in a Rapture.” Ledisi delivered a beautifully soulful rendition of “Sweet Love” before Yolanda Adams capped off the tribute with “You Bring Me Joy.”
Although Baker didn’t perform, due to an upper respiratory infection, she left the new and old school artists with some powerful words. “I would ask that the singers who are veterans here, when you see the young ones, tap them on the shoulder. They need you,” she said. “Young ones, look around the room and find a veteran and tap them on the shoulder and introduce yourself. Let’s take care of each other. We need each other. We can’t do it alone.”
Watch the tribute performances below.
Watch Anita’s acceptance speech.