Global superstar Usher capped off a superlative year by nabbing both the Entertainer of the Year and the President’s Award at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16.
Usher Raymond IV, 45, then delivered a powerful acceptance speech by praising all of the powerful women in his life, most particularly his mother Jonetta Patton.
“I’m very honored to receive this amazing award; from the depths of my soul, my passion work is what has mattered to me since my mother has made me understand what the opportunity to be able to speak to the entire world is,” he began.
Usher also honors under-recognized Black women in the industry
“I wanted to make it known that far too often, women in our industry [don’t] get the recognition that they truly deserve. When we first started, it was even harder for a mother to believe in the dreams that I had because I was unwavering, being raised without a father. In our home, being raised [by] a single parent … it was a lot. But [mom], if anybody deserves it more than anybody, it’s her.”
“The tenacity that it took to look within a male-dominated industry and believe in your son unwaveringly, no matter how hard those board rooms may have been, she didn’t have the experience … but because of that, I have this moment,” Usher continued.
“I want you to know how much I really love, honor, recognize, and appreciate you. It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the NAACP in and this beautiful community. We all take our crafts very serious…I am thankful for the support that my mother gave me. I’m overwhelmed by the appreciation from my entire family. I thank my beautiful mother and my beautiful wife, Jennifer, for holding me down. I dedicate this award to family,” he said.
Past recipients of the President Award include Ella Fitzgerald, Jay-Z, LeBron James, Spike Lee, Rihanna and Lauryn Hill, among others.
When President’s Award Winner (@Usher) meets Best Actor in a Drama Series (#DamsonIdris)!! 🔥🔥 #NAACPImageAwards #BET pic.twitter.com/jZJqxq8jO5
— BET (@BET) March 17, 2024
Usher is proud to take his place among the legends
Earlier in the evening, Usher spoke to Terrence J on the red carpet and expressed humility and gratefulness to be honored in the same class as other legends, according to Vibe.
“To be around this incredible group of people, all these beautiful Black people, I’m really happy to be honored tonight. I’m in great company,” he said.
