Keke Palmer flaunted her toned figure as she took part in a special tribute to Usher in honor of his Lifetime Achievement Award during the 24th Annual BET Awards on Sunday.
The Nope actress, 30 – who recently glammed up at the Webby Awards in NYC – joined others stars, such as Teyana Taylor and Coco Jones, to belt out lyrics to a mashup of tracks spanning Usher’s music career.
The star – who welcomed her first child last year in February with ex Darius Jackson – confidently showcased her sculpted midriff as she took to the stage to sing You Make Me Wanna (1997).
She donned a sparkling, cropped top that had various cutouts as well as a pair of baggy jeans that also contained scattered, rhinestone details.
Palmer additionally wore a pair of glittering bottoms underneath while a cap was placed on top of her long locks that flowed down straight past her shoulders.
Keke Palmer, 30, flaunted her toned figure as she took part in a special tribute to Usher in honor his Lifetime Achievement Award during the 24th Annual BET Awards on Sunday
The star – who welcomed her first last year in February with ex Darius Jackson – confidently showcased her sculpted midriff as she took to the stage to sing You Make Me Wanna (1997)
As she sang lyrcis and showcased her dance skills, Keke later sported an oversized, white button up.
The actress slipped into a pair of white sneakers as well as black, leather fingerless gloves to complete the look.
Towards the end of her performance, Palmer was surrounded by backup dancers who pulled down her trousers to reveal studded underwear.
She lifted her hands up into the air as the bright stage light shone down on her, causing the audience to erupt into applause.
Moments before, the beauty also joined Childish Gambino as he sang Usher’s 2001 song, You Don’t Have To Call.
The Redbone hitmaker was stylishly casual in a pair of tan-colored trousers as well as a short-sleeved, button up that was left unfastened around the collar.
He kicked off the tribute performance before Keke joined in on the lyrcis, with the two stars also grooving to the tune together.
Summer Walker soon took to the stage to belt out, Good Good, and wore a strapless, black leather bodysuit as well as a pair of over-the-knee boots.
She donned a sparkling, cropped top that had various cutouts as well as a pair of baggy jeans that also contained scattered, rhinestone details
Towards the end of her performance, Palmer was surrounded by backup dancers who pulled down her trousers to reveal the studded underwear
Moments before, the beauty also joined Childish Gambino as he sang Usher’s 2001 song, You Don’t Have To Call
The Redbone hitmaker was stylishly casual in a pair of tan-colored trousers as well as a short-sleeved, button up that was left unfastened around the collar
Summer Walker soon took to the stage to belt out, Good Good, wearing a strapless, black leather bodysuit as well as a pair of over-the-knee boots
The performer further glammed up the look with a pair of large, glittering earrings and a bedazzled hat on top of her locks that flowed down her back.
Walker also was joined by backup dancers as they took part in choreography on the stage as the crowd cheered inside the theater.
Coco Jones jumped into the mashup to sing, There Goes My Baby, and wore a fitted, long-sleeved black bodysuit with a Dolce & Gabbana belt.
She accessorized the look with an eye-catching necklace and dangly earrings from the Italian brand as she belted out the 2010 hit.
The star’s hair was parted to the side, and effortlessly cascaded down in light curls past her shoulders.
Jones began her portion while strutting through the crowd and eventually made her way onto the spacious stage.
Marsha Ambrosius performed Superstar during her portion of the tribute inside a circle of lights, and donned a black blazer as well as sparkling, tasseled bracelets.
She slipped into a pair of matching, black trousers and added a layer of shimmering, black material that was hooked to the left side of the blazer with a glittering brooch.
The singer also opted for long, dangly earrings that sparkled under a stage light while a large, red hat was placed on top of her head for a pop of color.
The performer further glammed up the look with a pair of large, glittering earrings and a bedazzled hat on top of her locks that flowed down her back
Coco Jones jumped into the mashup to sing, There Goes My Baby, and wore a fitted, long-sleeved black bodysuit with a Dolce & Gabbana belt
She accessorized the look with an eye-catching necklace and dangly earrings from the Italian brand as she belted out the 2010 hit
Marsha Ambrosius performed Superstar during her portion of the tribute, and donned a black blazer as well as sparkling, tasseled bracelets
She slipped into a pair of matching, black trousers and added a layer of shimmering, black material that was hooked to the left side of the blazer with a glittering brooch
Chloe Bailey – who also goes by the stage name of Chlöe – wowed as she sang Good Kisser
Chloe Bailey – who also goes by the stage name of Chlöe – wowed as she sang Good Kisser.
She donned a figure-hugging, nude catsuit that had rhinestone details throughout the material. The star slipped into a pair of open-toed, nude strappy heels for the performance.
Her locks were pulled back away from face, allowing the strands to cascade down behind her back.
Tinashe turned heads during her portion as she belted out Nice & Slow – which kicked off as she lounged on the floor of the stage as red lights surrounded her.
However, she quickly stood up to sing lyrics to the song while donning a pair of black, leather micro shorts as well as a black cropped top with silver-studded details.
The 2 On songstress donned a pair of knee-high, black heeled boots to coincide with the monochromatic color scheme of the look.
Her voluminous hair was parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.
She donned a figure-hugging, nude catsuit that had rhinestone details throughout the material
The star slipped into a pair of open-toed, nude-colored strappy heels for the performance
Her locks were pulled back away from face, allowing the strands to cascade down behind her back
Tinashe turned heads during her portion as she belted out Nice & Slow – which kicked off as she lounged on the floor of the stage as red lights surrounded her
However, she quickly stood up to sing lyrics to the song while donning a pair of black, leather micro shorts as well as a black cropped top with silver-studded details
Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monet jumped to the stage together to perform Bad Girl, with The Book Of Clarence actress wearing a pair of black trousers as well as a skimpy bralette top.
She layered the look with a blazer and added a black on top of her head as well as a long, glittering silver necklace.
Monet also flaunted her incredible figure in a silver, sequin cropped top as well as a matching miniskirt.
The On My Mama singer allowed her long locks to cascade down naturally as she joined in choreography with Taylor.
Latto closed out the tribute mashup by rapping Usher’s hit track, Yeah!, and was soon joined by Chloe Bailey, Tinashe, Summer Walker, Coco Jones, Keke Palmer and also Marsha Ambrosius.
The Lottery hitmaker wore a cropped, white tank top as well as a pair of baggy, dark denim jeans.
At one point during her performance, she wore a matching denim jacket and slipped into a pair of white sneakers.
During the tribute mashup, Usher could be seen standing on his feet in the audience as he danced along to the songs.
Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monet jumped to the stage together to perform Bad Girl, with The Book Of Clarence actress wearing a pair of black trousers as well as a skimpy bralette top
She layered the look with a blazer and added a black on top of her head as well as a long, glittering silver necklace
Monet also flaunted her incredible figure in a silver, sequin cropped top as well as a matching miniskirt
Latto closed out the tribute mashup by rapping Usher’s hit track, Yeah!, and was soon joined by Chloe Bailey, Tinashe, Summer Walker, Coco Jones, Keke Palmer and also Marsha Ambrosius
The Lottery hitmaker wore a cropped, white tank top as well as a pair of baggy, dark denim jeans
At one point during her performance, she wore a matching denim jacket and slipped into a pair of white sneakers
He later accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on stage and gave a speech – which was choppy due to what appeared to be the censoring of profanity.
Usher said that ‘getting here has definitely not been easy, but it has been worth it.’
‘When I first started, I had a different idea about what I thought life was going to be. I started off as an artist in a group in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and my name was Cha Cha,’ he said.
He referenced his late father Usher Raymond III in his speech, saying, ‘I really was searching for some identity and I was doing that specifically because I was trying to make sense of this name are the man gave me but didn’t stick around because he didn’t love me.
‘Or at least that was my perception of it because I had to live long enough in order to understand that you have to have a forgiving heart in order to understand the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America.
‘And my father, he was a product of that. He made a lot of decisions. He made a lot of choices. The one that probably hurt and helped me at the same time was to stay away.’
The feted artist continued: ‘That’s part of the reason why I say this is the year of the father were all the fathers have got to stand up for their sons and daughters and be the man that they need to be for them.’
He later accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on stage and gave a speech – which was choppy due to what appeared to be the censoring of profanity
‘When I first started, I had a different idea about what I thought life was going to be. I started off as an artist in a group in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and my name was Cha Cha,’ he said
In his speech, Usher stressed forgiveness as a critical trait for people to possess, saying, ‘You’ve got to be willing to forgive – got to be willing to be open.’
‘I’m telling you, you’re standing before a man who had to forgive a man who never showed up ever.’
He added, ‘And look what I made with it. Look what I was able to usher in in. That’s what’s real. That’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us men and women…I thank you all.’
The star was also named the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, besting fellow nominees including Brent Faiyaz, Bryson Tiller, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Drake, Fridayy and October London.
Usher said in his acceptance speech that he was ‘really happy to be able to be in this category.’
In his speech, Usher stressed forgiveness as a critical trait for people to possess, saying, ‘You’ve got to be willing to forgive – got to be willing to be open
The star was also named the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, besting fellow nominees including Brent Faiyaz, Bryson Tiller, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Drake, Fridayy and October London
‘Obviously tonight is a celebration of many things being able to be recognized for this life achievement award that’s coming,’ Usher said. ‘I’m really happy to still be a part of the fight, you know what I’m saying.’
In his speech, Usher, who is father to four children, used his platform to emphasize the importance of fatherhood.
‘To fathers tonight at home or in this audience, I would like you to stand up,’ Usher said. ‘Far too often, we get to this moment on we are able to say to our mothers, “Look mom, I made it.” We don’t get chance to say enough “Dad, I did it.”
‘So this one is for all the men out there being generals to their sons and motivation for our future Black leaders, young men. Thank you guys so much for this honor.’
