American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and producer Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally as Queen Latifah, would be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 BET Awards.
Queen Latifah is only 51 years old and would receive the award as the third youngest solo artist ever to be honoured with the prize. BET announced this news on Monday, 14 June 2021.
Whitney Houston remains the youngest to have gotten the recognition at just 37. Her win came at the first BET Awards in 2001. Mary J. Blige, who was 48 when she received the honour two years ago, come in as the second-youngest receiver of the award. Getting a Lifetime Achievement Award recognition at 37 is phenomenal.
American singer and songwriter Prince, who died unexpectedly in 2016 at 57, was also considered to be on the young side (52) when he received a lifetime achievement award from BET.
Both Houston and Prince are still yet to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy but Prince got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2004 while still alive. Whitney Houston got hers (in 2020) posthumously.
Smokey Robinson, who was aged 75 when he received the honour in 2015 is the oldest solo artist to receive a lifetime achievement award at the BET Awards, while James Brown (70) is the second oldest. He was honoured in 2003.
Timeline of the BET Lifetime Achievement Award past winners
Below is a list of artists who have received lifetime achievement awards from the BET.
2001: Whitney Houston (37 years)
2002: Earth, Wind & Fire
2003: James Brown (70 years)
2004: The Isley Brothers
2005: Gladys Knight (61 years)
2006: Chaka Khan (53 years)
2007: Diana Ross (63 years)
2008: Al Green (62 years)
2009: The O’Jays
2010: Prince (52 years)
2011: Patti LaBelle (67 years)
2012: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
2013: Charlie Wilson (60 years)
2014: Lionel Richie (64 years)
2015: Smokey Robinson (75 years)
2016: Samuel L. Jackson (67 years)
2017: New Edition
2018: Anita Baker (60 years)
2019: Mary J. Blige (48 years)
2020: no award
2021: Queen Latifah (51 years)
You may also like to read, Drake gives update on forthcoming album ‘Certified Lover Boy’
Interesting
Aww.. Glad for her
The queen deserves some recognition too.