Lauryn Hill was honored with the Living Legend Award at the 2026 BET Awards. with her children in the audience, she said, “I fight for y’all,” Hill said. “And fighting for y’all is me fighting for myself, it’s me fighting for my children, it’s me fighting for my community.” She also encouraged artists to embrace their gifts and remain true to their purpose.

She also surprised the audience with an impromptu performance of her 1998 classic “Ex-Factor” after accepting the Living Legend Icon Award before closing the show with “Everything Is Everything.”

The Living Legend Icon Award recognizes pioneers whose work has remained culturally essential across generations.