Iconic Moment! Janet Jackson Crowns Teyana Taylor with BET's Top Honor

Teyana Taylor was profoundly honored with the prestigious Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards, held on Sunday night, June 28. The award recognized her significant and lasting impact across the diverse fields of music, fashion, and film.

A highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance by Janet Jackson, Taylor's declared main artistic inspiration, who presented the award. Taylor, a Harlem-bred polymath, was visibly caught off guard by Jackson's presence and immediately broke down in tears, overwhelmed with emotion. Jackson, wearing a 2Pac T-shirt, delivered a heartfelt tribute, stating, "It seems like only yesterday, our rose from Harlem grew out of the concrete and blossomed into our Icon of the Year. I’ve enjoyed watching you, as you know, over the years. Watching you defy expectations, rewrite the rules and lead with an unstoppable work ethic." Jackson concluded her praise by declaring, "The world is made more luminous with the art that you have given it. This year, it belongs to you."

Still overcome, Taylor, wiping away tears, accepted the award with a distinctive Janet Jackson-esque strut across the stage in a blue dress. Before focusing on her own achievement, she first extended profound gratitude to her idol. "I love you so much," Taylor conveyed to Jackson. "Thank you for always seeing me. Thank you for every text, every hug, every talk. You are my biggest inspiration. Everybody who I know knows how I feel about you. The fact you even took out the time to be here and celebrate with me, this is crazy. I love you so much. There would be no me without you."

Turning her attention to the award itself, Taylor addressed her feelings about the title. "Tonight they handed me a title and that title is Icon of the Year. For a little minute, I wondered if I was supposed to be feel uncomfortable saying that title out loud. But nah, I worked my a– off 20 years for this. So I’m not what I’ve earned with arrogance, I’m accepting what I’ve earned with gratitude." She passionately advocated for the importance of supporting others, emphasizing that helping others does not necessitate dimming one's own light. Taylor concluded her powerful speech by affirming, "So tonight I will wear this title loud and proud because I promise to continue to earn it."

This prestigious award caps off a remarkable 2025 for Teyana Taylor. During that year, she starred in the Oscar-winning film "One Battle After Another," where her portrayal of Perfidia earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Awards nomination. In the realm of music, she released her "Escape Room" album, which successfully debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard 200. Furthermore, under her alias Spike Tee, Taylor secured an additional three BET Awards for Video Director of the Year, the Fashion Vanguard Award, and Best Actress, solidifying her multifaceted impact across various creative industries.