T-Pain will be presented the Legend Award at the 2023 Soul Train Awards, set to air Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and BET Her.
“When it comes to his overall approach to music as a songwriter, the genius of T-Pain stands among the most memorable and enviable in the business. He has reshaped the fabric of the music industry, and his influence transcends generations in pop, Hip Hop, and R&B,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy.
Orlando continued, “We are honored to celebrate his limitless contributions to the culture at the soulful party of the year: Soul Train Awards 2023.”
“To be honest, it feels incredible to be recognized by BET as this year’s Soul Train Awards Legend honoree,” added T-Pain. “Not that I’m looking for recognition at this point in my career; I’m just doing what I like and what makes me happy, but it still feels great when you receive it. I’ve done a lot in the last 20 years, and for BET to be one of the first networks to recognize that is pretty cool.”
T-Pain has achieved three RIAA-certified albums, including his second album, Epiphany, which is 2x multi-platinum. It’s his best-selling album to date.
Most recently, T-Pain gained a gold plaque (over 500,000 equivalent units sold) for his featured appearance on 6LACK’s “One Way.”
Additionally, T-Pain has amassed three No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 — “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” “Kiss Kiss,” and “Low” — and two Grammy Awards over the course of his career.
Outside of his Legend Award, T-Pain is up for the Certified Soul Award at the 2023 edition of the ceremony.
His nomination comes in conjunction with his On Top of the Covers project, released in March.
The seven-track effort includes T-Pain’s take on classics such as Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” as well as modern songs like Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.”
This year’s 2023 Soul Train Awards will also salute Janelle Monáe, who will be bestowed the Spirit of Soul Award.
Rising singer Maeta joins the lineup of previously announced performers SWV, BJ The Chicago Kid, Coco Jones, Muni Long, Dante Bowe, Fridayy, and Keke Palmer, who is also this year’s host.
Emerging stars October London and Honey Bxby will showcase their talents on the BET Amplified stage.
Arin Ray, Eric Bellinger, Marsha Ambrosius, and Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone will participate in the Soul Cypher this year. Award-winning songwriter and producer Bryan-Michael Cox will oversee the turntables for the event.
Nominations for the 2023 Soul Train Awards were announced earlier this month. Usher, SZA and Summer Walker are the most nominated acts, with nine each. Keke Palmer will host the annual show.
