BET took the 2021 Soul Train Awards to New York to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Soul Train legacy. The highly anticipated award show was filled with a night of BIG wins and honorable tributes for our favorite artists.
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, better known as Silk Sonic, began the night with a flashy spin on “Fly As Me”. They had a successful night winning the Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and the Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s awards. What a sweep!
Special highlighted moments included; Ashanti being crowned “Lady of Soul” and Maxwell receiving the “Legend Award”. Both Maxwell and Ashanti have influenced the industry and performed some of their hits reminding us why they are deserving of such recognition. Normani, Ashanti’s presenter, took home the “Best Dance Performance” award for “Wild Side” featuring Cardi B. Jazmine Sullivan, the presenter of Maxwell’s award, had her own wins for the night owning “Best R&B Soul Female Artist” and “Album of the Year” for “Heaux Tales”. Both Maxwell and Ashanti have influenced the industry and performed some of their hits reminding us why they are deserving of such recognition.
Other artists like Yung Bleu and Giveon joined the list of winners and took home “Best New Artist” and “Best R&B/Soul Male Artist”. The “Certified Soul” award belongs to none other than Charlie Wilson and “Best Gospel/Inspirational” to Kirk Franklin. “Essence” by WizKid featuring Tems is also well deserving of the “Best Collaboration” award after its success this year. Silk Sonic came back to the stage and ended the night with a 70’s themed “Smoking Out The Window” performance in true “Soul Train” fashion.
BET powered the first-ever soul filled weekend to fully celebrate the impact of Soul Train in our community. After 50 years off-air, the legacy and essence of the show lives on in our artists today. In the words of the great Don Cornelius, legendary host of Soul Train, “We wish you love, peace and soul.”
Here is the complete list of 2021 “Soul Train Awards” winners:
BEST NEW ARTIST
YUNG BLEU
CERTIFIED SOUL AWARD
CHARLIE WILSON
BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST
JAZMINE SULLIVAN
BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST
GIVEON
BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
KIRK FRANKLIN
SONG OF THE YEAR
BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
JAZMINE SULLIVAN – HEAUX TALES
THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN – WRITTEN BY: BRUNO MARS, BRANDON ANDERSON, DERNST EMILE II, CHRISTOPHER BRODY BROWN (BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC)
BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
NORMANI FEAT. CARDI B – WILD SIDE
BEST COLLABORATION
WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN