IN THE NEWS

Source: Vibe

Hollywood pulled up to Harlem to celebrate two of R&B’s finest.

Just one day after Babyface was inducted into The Apollo‘s Walk of Fame, he and Usher were honored at the venue’s 2024 Spring Benefit.

The fundraising affair raised $3 million, but it was also a lavish, A-list event to celebrate two of R&B’s most distinguished forces, with Ursher receiving this year’s Icon Award and Face receiving the inaugural Legacy Award.

Jordin Sparks kicked off the night with a riveting medley of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” and Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” before host Kym Whitley kept the crowd laughing with her witty remarks about the evening’s honorees. She joked that Babyface should now be called “Grown-man-face, sexy-face, kiss-your-face” and went off-script to squeal in delight about Usher being in attendance.

Dancers paid homage to the latter with a choreographed performance to some of his greatest hits including “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “Caught Up,” and “Confessions, Pt. II.”

During his speech, Usher reflected on watching Showtime At The Apollo with his late grandmother thinking, “Man, someday I’m gonna make it to that stage and hopefully one day, I’ll get a standing ovation.’” As that dream came true, he expressed, “I stand before you humbled by your appreciation.” Looking back on the days when he performed on The Apollo stage, the 45-year-old noted, “You know, they say if you make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Well, if you can make it to The Apollo, you can do anything […] I never became an amateur because I became a major. You gotta let that simmer in.”

He continued to thank those closest to him, including his mother, his team, Ron Laffitte, Jon Platt, Quincy Jones, L.A. Reid, and his “best friend”— wife Jennifer.

Fat Joe and Kwanza Jones presented Babyface with his award, but first led the audience in an impromptu performance of “Soon As I Get Home.” When the 65-year-old songwriter-producer took the stage, he kept it sweet and concise, but most of all, he was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“I’ve gotten a lot of awards over the years and this is one of the most important ones I’ve gotten,” he began before explaining how receiving the Walk Of Fame plaque and getting the Legacy Award made his sons proud, which was “the best gift that I could ever get.”

The Girls Night Out crooner added, “To know that I’ve done something, not just for the world, but for my kids—I’ve made them proud and that’s what I’m here for […] I am just in awe to be considered as part of this. Normally I stand up here, I’m funnier than this. Usually, I am. But I’m just, I’m really just so taken by this, and I just want to thank you for the bottom of my heart. I appreciate it.”

He was then serenaded by Johnny Gill with “My, My, My,” Karyn White performing “Superwoman,” and Avery Wilson singing “Can We Talk,” before Face himself closed the night with “Whip Appeal.”