Lauryn Hill receives living legend icon award at BET Awards with tributes from SZA and Nas

The former Fugees frontwoman was honoured with the new accolade during the ceremony, with Ice Cube presenting the trophy and speaking at length about her cultural influence. A series of artists then performed selections from Hill's catalogue, drawing from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the Fugees' The Score, and other key moments in her career.

Among the standout renditions were SZA and Doechii's take on the Fugees' "Ready or Not", Tierra Whack and Tems' version of "Fu-Gee-La", and Doja Cat performing "Superstar" before duetting with Nas on "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)". The War & Treaty delivered a rendition of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", a song their member Tanya Trotter had previously performed with Hill in Sister Act 2. Additional contributions came from Lizzo, YG Marley, Selah, Rapsody, Zion Marley and Alexia Jayy, with Queen Latifah and Common closing the segment with a cover of "Lost Ones".

Following a commercial break, Hill took the stage unexpectedly. "I wasn't even supposed to perform, but I heard somebody wasn't doing this song," she said, before performing "Ex-Factor" from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Accepting the award, Hill reflected on her motivation for making music. "I do this because I want y'all to have everything that I experienced," she said. "I had wonderful parents who loved on me, poured into me, and protected me. Once I realised that not everybody got to have that experience, I felt like it was my duty, my responsibility to share as much love and pour into people as music as I possibly could, and music was a way to do that."

The tribute caps a year of high-profile appearances for Hill, who performed at the 2026 Grammys earlier this year in a medley honouring the late D'Angelo and Roberta Flack, joined by Chaka Khan, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and Leon Bridges.