Janelle Monáe will receive the Spirit of Soul Award at the 2023 Soul Train Awards. The ceremony airs this Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and BET Her.
Monáe is being honored for their outstanding contributions to music, film, fashion, and advocacy.
“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. We are thrilled to honor Janelle’s talents on soul music’s biggest stage, Soul Train Awards,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy.
Orlando 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.”
The inaugural presentation of the Spirit of Soul Award will stand in for the 2023 edition of the Lady of Soul Award to “honor the diversity and inclusivity” of Monáe, who is non-binary and uses both she/her and they/them pronouns.
Monáe is also nominated for several statuettes at the Soul Train Awards, including Album of the Year (The Age of Pleasure) and Best Female R&B/Soul Artist.
Monáe’s hit single, “Lipstick Lover,” which went No. 1 on the R&B charts, is up for three awards, including Song of the Year, Video of the Year, and The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award.
Additionally, T-Pain will be honored with the Legend Award at the 2023 Soul Train Awards.
Main-stage performers include SWV, BJ The Chicago Kid, Muni Long, Coco Jones, Fridayy, Maeta, Dante Bowe, and Keke Palmer.
Rising artists October London and Honey Bxby will perform on the BET Amplified stage.
Meanwhile, Arin Ray, Eric Bellinger, Marsha Ambrosius, and Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone will participate in the Soul Cypher, with legendary hitmaker Bryan-Michael Cox spinning throughout.
Having landed nine nominations each, Usher, Summer Walker and SZA lead the pack at the 2023 Soul Train Awards. Keke Palmer will host the ceremony.