Will Smith appeared at the 2024 BET Awards surrounded by fire and the gospel choir Sunday Service to perform his new single, “You Can Make It,” live for the first time.
“I don’t know who needs this right now,” Smith began his performance. “But I am here to tell you, you can make it.”
During the show, Kirk Franklin joined him, and the two rapped together. “Nobody has it easy,” Smith, who is making a comeback from his incident at the Oscars two years ago, shared with the audience. “There is wisdom in difficult times. Embrace your darkest moments.”
The upcoming presidential election was a key topic at the awards show. Childish Gambino presented Killer Mike with the album of the year award for “Michael,” and Killer Mike addressed his Grammys arrest and the importance of voting in his acceptance speech.
Megan Thee Stallion kicked off the show with a high-energy performance of her new singles and paid tribute to fellow artists in attendance. Throughout the night, various artists took the stage to showcase their talent and share powerful messages.
The show concluded with Usher winning the lifetime achievement honor and delivering a heartfelt message about fathers.
For more on the BET Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/bet-awards
