‘BET Presents: 2017 Soul Train Awards’ Airs Tonight

BET Presents: 2017 Soul Train Awards was filmed at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Erykah Badu, returned to the stage as host and producer, with her eccentric sense of humor and legendary style. The annual event honoring the best in soul and R&B featured powerful performances by Toni Braxton, SWV, Method Man, Tamar Braxton, Keyshia Cole, Kirk Franklin, Jessie J, 112, Tank, Daniel Caeser, DVSN, Le’Andria Johnson, Demetria McKinney, Ledisi, Luke James, MAJOR., Ro James and U-God.

GRAMMY award-nominated, multi-platinum female R&B trio SWV was presented with the second annual Lady of Soul Award, while multi-platinum and GRAMMY award-winning, singer-songwriter Toni Braxton was honored with the night’s highly coveted Legend Award.

SWV, who performed a medley of their top hits such as, “I’m So Into You,” and “Weak.” The trio were joined by Method Man and U-God for their final song, “Anything,” getting the entire crowd out of their seats and singing along, including newcomer Kehlani.

Erykah Badu, ever the powerhouse entertainer and visionary, opened the show making an impactful statement by taking a knee before the crowd. Her laugh-out-loud, yet poignant, monologue focused on current events and included everything from faux Trump tweets to fake news. Throughout the show she brought her sharp sense of humor, including, “Irma’s Lost Soul Files,” a bit where her alter ego was superimposed into some of Soul Train Awards’ greatest past performances.

For the third year, the awards show unveiled a powerful “Soul Cypher,” featuring a mix of legendary and contemporary R&B and soul singers coming together. Badu was theDJ in the cypher while Faith Evans, Fantasia, Bilal and Mali Music brought powerhouse vocals.

Bell Biv Devoe presented SWV with the Lady of Soul Award, where the honorees delivered a heartfelt speech, speaking of their trials and tribulations, noting they’d been nominated for everything and yet to win anything – until now.

Anthony Anderson introduced Ro James, performing “Seven Whole Days,” Jessie J., performing, “You Mean the World to Me,” and Luke James, performing, “Unbreak My Heart,” before presenting Toni Braxton with the coveted Legend Award. The incomparable multi-platinum, multi GRAMMY award-winning artist then took the stage, to a standing ovation and roaring round of applause, performing a medley of her classics including, “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” “You’re Making Me High,” and, “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.”

Following his inspirational performance, featuring MAJOR., Daniel Caeser, Ledisi, and Le’Andria Johnson, Kirk Franklin lead the audience in a touching moment of reflection honoring those affected by the recent Las Vegas tragedy.

Check out our gallery of photos from the event.

The Nominees:
BEST NEW ARTIST
6LACK
H.E.R.
Kevin Ross
Khalid
SZA

BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST
Bruno Mars
Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
Khalid
The Weeknd

BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST
Kehlani
Lalah Hathaway
Ledisi
Mary J. Blige
Solange
SZA

SOUL TRAIN CERTIFIED AWARD
Bell Biv Devoe
Johnny Gill
Lalah Hathaway
Ledisi
Mack Wilds

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé – “All Night”
Bruno Mars – “24k Magic”
Chris Brown feat. Usher & Gucci Mane – “Party”
DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Solange – “Cranes In The Sky”

BEST GOSPEL/ INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
Chance The Rapper
Charlie Wilson
Kirk Franklin
Lecrae
Tamela Mann

ALBUM/ MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Mary J. Blige – Strength of a Woman
Solange – A Seat at the Table
SZA – Ctrl
The Weeknd – Starboy

RHYTHM & BARS AWARD (FORMERLY BEST HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR)
Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow”
DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
French Montana feat. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble.”
Yo Gotti feat. Nicki Minaj – “Rake It Up”

SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Khalid – “Location”
Solange – “Cranes in the Sky”

THE ASHFORD & SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD
“Cranes in the Sky” – Written By: Troy L. John, Solange Knowles, Raphael Saadiq (Solange)
“Location” – Written By: Alfredo Emmanuel Gonzalez, Olatunji Olutomiwa, Samuel David Jimenez, Khalid Robinson, Joshua Scruggs (Khalid)
“Love Me Now” – Written By: Blake Matthew Simon Mills, John Henry Ryan, John Roger Stephens (John Legend)
“Redbone” – Written By: George Clinton, William Earl Collins, Gary Lee Cooer, Donald Mckinley Glover Ii, Ludwig Emil Tomas Goransson (Childish Gambino)
“Versace on the Floor” – Written By: Christopher Steven Brown, James Edward Fauntleroy, Bruno Mars, Philip Martin Lawrence (Bruno Mars)

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Chris Brown feat. Usher & Gucci Mane – “Party”
DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Solange feat. Sampha – “Don’t Touch My Hair”
Wizkid feat. Drake – “Come Closer”

BEST COLLABORATION
DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Jazmine Sullivan & Bryson Tiller – “Insecure”
Mary J. Blige feat. Kanye West – “Love Yourself”
Solange feat. Sampha – “Don’t Touch My Hair”
SZA feat. Travis Scott – “Love Galore”