BET Awards: Clive Davis & D'Angelo Honored in Emotional Tributes

The 2026 BET Awards featured poignant tributes to music icons Clive Davis and D'Angelo. The ceremony, which aired live on Sunday, June 28, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, included a special In Memoriam segment.

During the In Memoriam segment, Erica Campbell and Le'Andria Johnson performed a medley including "I Love the Lord." Campbell noted the song was a favorite of Whitney Houston and was written by Richard Smallwood, who was also honored and had recently passed away in late December.

Another highlight was the tribute to D'Angelo, introduced by his children. Artists such as RAYE, Durand Bernarr, Ari Lennox, BJ the Chicago Kid, and George Clinton took the stage to honor the "Unshaken" singer. Clive Davis, a pivotal music mogul, passed away on June 22 at the age of 94, just six days prior to the awards.

Davis, who spent six decades in the industry, was instrumental in bringing artists like Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, and Bruce Springsteen to prominence. His career involved collaborations with a vast array of legendary musicians. Following his death, numerous tributes poured in, with Springsteen acknowledging Davis's life-changing impact.