PATTI LaBelle will be performing in honour of Tina Turner at the BET Awards on Sunday. The set will celebrate the legacy of the Queen of Rock & Roll, reported Rolling Stone magazine.
“Tina was a trailblazer and someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for because of all that she overcame and all that she accomplished,” LaBelle told Rolling Stone in a statement. “She was and is everything! And I am honoured that I am able to pay tribute to her in this way.”
A BET Awards statement said the tribute would be “nothing short of extraordinary” and will “capture the essence of Turner’s unparalleled legacy". No details of the set have been released.
Turner died on May 24 in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland after facing a “long illness” at age 83, her family said in a statement. Though her exact cause of death was not available, Turner had a stroke and faced kidney failure and intestinal cancer in recent years.
After news of her death broke, LaBelle posted a tribute to Turner on social media.
“Tina, the world will forever be grateful for your voice, your fearlessness, and your grace!” she wrote. “You truly are the Queen of Rock & Roll and your spirit will reign forever! Rest in eternal peace and love!”
Among the performances at this Sunday's awards are Doechii, GloRilla, Coco Jones, and Lil Uzi Vert. The event will also feature a tribute to the 50 years of hip-hop with performances from the likes of 69 Boyz, E-40, Remy Ma, Chief Keef, Soulja Boy, Tyga, Trina, and the Ying Yang Twins. Busta Rhymes will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“From music to dance and fashion, we are digging through every crate as we celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop and its diversity, evolution, and global impact,” said Connie Orlando, a BET executive. “This wall-to-wall party will reverberate with the amazing energy and passion these artists bring to the stage and the culture.”
This show is set to air live on June 25 at 8pm ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. It’ll be simulcast on BET, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, and VH1. – The Vibes, June 25, 2023
