BET has announced that Janelle Monae will receive the “Spirit of Soul” award at the 2023 “Soul Train Awards,” which premiere Sunday, November 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her.
The award, presented by BET since 2015, earlier carried the name “Lady of Soul.” The name has been tweaked “to honor the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s recipient.”
Monae came out as non-binary in April 2022 on “Red Table Talk,” saying, “I’m nonbinary, so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely … I feel like god is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she.’ And if I am from God, I am everything.”
“Janelle is one of the most talented forces in the entertainment industry, and an equally impactful change agent for Black LGBTQIA+ people to see themselves fully reflected across platforms,” Connie Orlando, evp specials, music programming & music strategy, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to honor Janelle’s talents on soul music’s biggest stage, Soul Train Awards.”
She added, “Janelle’s captivating sound is as multifaceted as Janelle’s many other talents within film, business, and social impact. BET is where Black Pride lives onscreen. We look forward to honoring this dynamic individual with the newly named ‘Spirit of Soul’ award as we continue to create inclusive spaces for diverse voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”
Jill Scott (2015), Brandy (2016), SWV (2017), Faith Evans (2018), Yolanda Adams (2019), Moncia (2020), Ashanti (2021) and Xscape (2022) are the previous recipients of the award.
The “Soul Train Awards” this year will be hosted by Keke Palmer.
(Photo: Mason Rose)
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