Teyana Taylor becomes emotional after Lauryn Hill tribute, Icon of the Year award at BET Awards

Teyana Taylor reacted emotionally during the BET Awards on Sunday, June 28, 2026, after being presented with the Icon of the Year award by Janet Jackson, according to the BBC. Taylor’s reaction became a talking point as the show included a tribute associated with Lauryn Hill.

In the televised moment, Taylor’s tears followed her introduction for the award, with Jackson handing over the honor during the program. The BBC described Taylor as having an emotional reaction as she received the award, tying the moment to the show’s Lauryn Hill tribute segment.

BET’s Icon of the Year category is presented during the awards ceremony as a recognition of an artist’s long-running impact in music and culture. The BBC report said Taylor’s onstage response stood out during the ceremony’s sequence that blended the award with the evening’s tributes.

The BET Awards also featured the involvement of major mainstream music stars, with Jackson’s role as presenter placing her at the center of the segment. The BBC report did not describe specific remarks made during the exchange, but it emphasized the emotional weight of Taylor’s reaction to the honor.

The Lauryn Hill connection in the ceremony’s tribute added another layer to the presentation. Hill, a multi-time charting artist whose work has influenced subsequent generations, has been widely cited in tributes across the industry. In this instance, the BBC’s account linked the tribute to the same portion of the show where Taylor received her award.

Taylor’s response came during a high-visibility awards moment intended for broad audiences. Award ceremonies of this scale typically involve tightly scheduled live segments, and presenters and performers are given cues to ensure the program flows; the BBC highlighted the authenticity of Taylor’s reaction rather than any procedural disruption.

As the broadcast circulated in subsequent coverage, the focus remained on the onstage exchange between Taylor and Jackson and the ceremony’s tribute framing. The BBC report framed the moment as a key emotional highlight of the evening rather than as a controversy or separate storyline.

The BET Awards are part of a larger annual entertainment cycle in which performers and music industry leaders appear both to receive awards and to participate in tribute segments. Taylor’s tears, as reported by the BBC, served as a reminder of how award shows can function as public recognition and communal celebration for artists and their audiences.