According to VIBE many of us expected the Usher tribute at the BET awards to be a mostly male ensemble, but BET surprised us.
They had a mostly female-led tribute performances that celebrated Usher‘s enduring legacy and 30-year career as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 BET Awards.
Live from the Peacock Theater on Sunday night (June 30), Childish Gambino opened the 17-minute long set with an acoustic rendition of “U Don’t Have To Call,” which was a win for those who still have his version of Tamia’s “So Into You” living rent-free in your minds.
Keke Palmer joined him for the second half of the first verse before the former child star, once again, lived out her childhood dreams after first doing so when she and Usher collaborated for his “Boyfriend” music video.
BABYYYYY KEKE PALMER DEVOURED #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/k091C9TDky
— ????j | ???????????????????????????? {???????????? ????????????}???? (@lovelyquinns) July 1, 2024
Palmer broke out into the infamous choreography before taking over the stage with a vibrant version of “You Make Me Wanna.” She was spot-on with mimicking Ursher’s notorious dance moves and even nailed the moment when the singer dropped his pants and kicked off his shoes in the classic visual. This part has Usher ready to jump out of his seat with excitement.
Not long after, Coco Jones stole the show the same way Usher did during his BET Awards debut performance— by walking through the audience and serenading a select few.
When she approached Usher in the front row, the “ICU” star first sang to his wife, Jennifer Goicoechea-Raymond, before pulling the crooner out of his seat for an intimate moment.
THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT!! TEYANA TAYLOR AND VICTORIA MONEY RECREATE USHER AND BEYONCÉ’S PERFORMANCE. ???? pic.twitter.com/LRlRNcAaVl
— yanah. ???? (@archiveyanah) July 1, 2024
Arguably, the best part was when Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monét saved the tribute and paid homage to Usher by recreating his 2004 “Bad Girl” performance with Beyoncé.
With that said, twitter has mixed feelings!
usher’s tribute is filled with women because this new generation of male singers cannot sing nor perform #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/r7CLWyGgcQ
— ego???? | connoisseur+ (@theeemprasss) July 1, 2024
and
Why in the FUCK do yall care that most of the performers during Usher’s tribute were women???? They did AMAZING…THAT is what matters #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/zTVxbX5NJ8
— CUNTboy Carter???? (@YallQunt) July 1, 2024
and
Still stuck on the fact that Chris Brown, Lloyd, Mario, Tank, Luke James, Neyo, Avant, Avery Wilson or any other talented Male R&b singers just weren’t even a thought for this Usher tribute. #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/UmJJA4jSni
— bri (@brileighh11) July 1, 2024
and
This is what an Usher tribute should’ve been giving. #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/MbXrcmRwcb
— The Original Lisa Vandercunt (@robinwannabefly) July 1, 2024
and
how could you not have luke james do an usher tribute ….. #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/oYwrs3Rq8k
— Simmy (@Simmy_Ali) July 1, 2024
and
Whoever picked Marsha Ambrosius for this Usher tribute please come to the front real quick. I gotta a question. pic.twitter.com/U7df8Bbje0
— Auntie Vin (@V4Vinny_) July 1, 2024
and
black women just gave Usher the best tribute i’ve seen in yearsssss#BETAwards pic.twitter.com/aIZnnKsbES
— all yours???????? (@jamelisyours) July 1, 2024
and
Until this Usher tribute, I never realized how few R&B male singers we have today #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/xWYLxVnmST
— Kevin Lockett (@kevinlockett) July 1, 2024
and
???????? THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING PICKING KEKE FOR THE USHER TRIBUTE FOR *THAT* PARTICULAR SONG #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/VpoMsOcfhL
— ladidai (@ladidaix) ???? peep lincolnbio (@ladidaix) July 1, 2024
and
Usher so gracious. I would’ve been frowned up. #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/6b3rExUY8z
— Toney! Toni! Toné! (@the_notorious_) July 1, 2024
and
keke palmer and her ex broke up bc she went to an usher concert, jump forward a year later she’s performing in the usher tribute at the bet awards. pic.twitter.com/Ybs4Do68Oe
— kris ☆ (@dolIszZz) July 1, 2024
Swipe for all the performances below:
