Lenny Kravitz took the stage for an electrifying performance and to receive the Music Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards on Sunday.
The 59-year-old singer was honored for his impact in music before performing a medley of some of his greatest hits at the award ceremony held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
He sang Fly Away, TK421, It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over, Let Love Rule, and Are You Gonna Go My Way as the audience jammed out to his music.
Then, the hitmaker — who was one of the superstars recently nominated to join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — gave a touching speech and accepted the ‘incredible award’.
‘When I was thinking about what to say tonight, I kept going back to that word — “icon”,’ he began.
Lenny Kravitz took the stage for an electrifying performance and to receive the Music Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards on Sunday
The 59-year-old singer was honored for his impact in music before performing a medley of some of his greatest hits at the award ceremony held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California
‘It means a lot of things to a lot of people,’ he continued. ‘But to me, it means you’ve made an indelible mark by being who God created you to be and daring to be different.’
Kravitz encouraged others to stay true to themselves as he recalled how he was told ‘to change’ at the beginning of his career.
He said when he was ‘coming up,’ he received ‘a lot of deals’ but was criticized and told to change himself.
‘My music wasn’t black enough. It wasn’t white enough. It didn’t fit nicely inside a box or sound like it was on a radio at the time,’ he recalled hearing back then.
‘And I turned down the money and the glitzy promises of fame and stardom because I couldn’t live with myself doing something inauthentic,’ he said.
As for the definition of an icon, he said he believed it is ‘someone who inspires and teaches others to believe in themselves and their direction, whatever that direction is’.
Throughout his decades-spanning career, the four-time Grammy winner emphasized that it has ‘never been’ about how many records he sells or awards he wins.
Instead, he said when he is making music, he is only ‘enjoying and being grateful’ for the journey and using ‘the gifts God gave you’.
He sang Fly Away, TK421, It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over, Let Love Rule, and Are You Gonna Go My Way as the audience jammed out to his music
After his performance, the hitmaker gave a touching speech and accepted the ‘incredible award’
‘It will continue because I’m just doing me,’ he added.
He also thanked many people in his life who have supported him including his parents and his fans.
Near the end of his speech, he shared a meaningful mantra he has told himself for over three decades.
‘Never follow the trends, set your own pace and recognize that the best is right here right now in front of you,’ he said, adding that ‘the whole reason’ he makes music is to ‘amplify love’.
‘There’s no barrier between performer and audience,’ he said.
‘It’s all about all of us embracing love and unity in this world that God has given us. Love is the strongest power and love will win. We are all one. One God, one people, one planet.’
Victoria Monét presented the award to Kravitz as she praised him as an ‘undeniable, once in a lifetime genius’
Kravitz encouraged others to stay true to themselves as he recalled how he was told ‘to change’ at the beginning of his career. He said when he was ‘coming up,’ he received ‘a lot of deals’ but was criticized and told to change himself
Near the end of his speech, he shared a meaningful mantra he has told himself for over three decades. ‘Never follow the trends, set your own pace and recognize that the best is right here right now in front of you’
Victoria Monét presented the award to Kravitz as she praised him as an ‘undeniable, once in a lifetime genius.’
The only two artists that have won the Music Icon Award in the past were Christina Aguilera as the inaugural recipient in 2021 and Shania Twain in 2022.
Prior to Kravitz, only two artists have won the Music Icon Award. Christina Aguilera was the inaugural recipient in 2021, followed by Shania Twain in 2022.
He will be releasing his upcoming album Blue Electric Light in May — which will be his first record in more than five years.
