Urban One Honors recognizes Bobby Brown, LL Cool J, Maxine Waters and more during Atlanta ceremony
It was a night filled with stars and smiles at The Eastern, as the fifth annual Urban One Honors recorded their ceremony, due to air on Martin Luther King Jr. Day next year.
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While it will be a few weeks before you’ll be able to watch the show, I’ve got you covered on a few of the details of the show. Let’s start with the red carpet – the fashions were everything and more! Everyone dressed up, including Real Housewives of Atlanta alums Nene Leakes and Lisa Wu, songwriter and music producer Dallas Austin, Pusha T, as well as honorees LL Cool J, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Pharrell Williams, Bobby Brown, David and Tamela Mann.
Several honorees and a host of other celebrities showed up to celebrate at the two-hour telecast, with the theme “Celebrating Icons of the Culture.” The honorees included six influential game-changers for the culture. LL Cool J was honored with the Entertainment Icon Award — and with more than three decades in the game, I can understand why! It was only five years ago that the two-time Grammy award winner received the Kennedy Center Honors, and soon after, in 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the award for musical excellence category. LL’s contribution to the music industry and beyond puts him in an iconic category that can’t help but be recognized.
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Congresswoman Maxine Waters, affectionally known as “Aunty Maxine,” received the Lifetime Achievement Honor. With her continuous efforts on the political front and throughout her more than 40 years of public service, Congresswoman Waters has been on the cutting edge, tackling difficult and often controversial issues.
The super producer, rapper, singer and songwriter Pharrell Williams took home the Music Innovation Honor for his dedication to stepping outside the box while breaking records all at the same time.
Walking away with the first ever Urban One Honors Phoenix Honors, was none other than the trailblazing Bobby Brown. After overcoming so much and continuing to rise again, I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than Brown.
David and Tamela Mann were both recognized with the Inspiration Impact Honors. The married couple has both individually and collectively inspired audiences through their work in film and music alike.
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R&B singer and actor Tank will host the show, while songstress LeToya Luckett will host a backstage pass segment featuring interviews with the show’s honorees, performers and presenters.
One of my favorite parts of the show is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with DJ Spinderella (Salt-N-Pepa), Monie Love and Doug E. Fresh! While I’m not going to give away any show secrets, just know you’re in for a treat from the opening number until the very end of the show. The performances, speeches and atmosphere will make you feel like you’re watching a family reunion with your famous aunts and uncles.
The Urban One Honors is set to premiere on Monday, January 16, 2023 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) on TV One and Cleo TV. Check out the gallery above for a first look at the red carpet.
About the Author
Vicky Ro is the Entertainment Reporter for Access Atlanta. When it comes to the latest in music, film, reality television (and all things entertainment), you can count on Vicky to keep you up to date! Vicky's goal is to create fun and informative content that everyone can enjoy - from a casual entertainment consumer to the pop culture obsessed!
