Say what you will about pop star Lizzo, but she probably won’t hear it over all the winning.
She was the most nominated artist at this year’s Grammys with a total of eight nominations. Her song "Truth Hurts" was a smash hit before it even dropped for mainstream audiences, and she’s since been one of the most talked-about celebrities on social media.
On Saturday, Lizzo was named the NAACP’s 2020 Image Awards Entertainer of the Year, reports Billboard. The 31-year-old singer from Detroit took to the stage and gave a rousing acceptance speech. Her words honored and magnified the efforts of the Black entertainers that came before her, as well as empowered women who might fit outside of today’s beauty standards.
“I just wanna shout out all of the big Black girls that I bring on stage with me. I do that because I want them to know they are the trophies. And since this is the final award of the night I don’t even want to make it about me. Every last one of you, you are the award. We are so special, we are such a beautiful people, this is just a reminder of all the incredible things that we can do. God bless you, and keep on being an award! Let’s go! Let’s go!” she said.
She also gave credit to her hero, actress Angela Bassett, for being “the entertainer, period.”
For her roses, Bassett blew kisses back to Lizzo in adoration. Lizzo later posted to Instagram a picture of herself holding her award on the stage with a caption that read, in part, “Perfectly Black in Every Way."
Additionally, Billboard reports Lizzo was the first person to receive the NAACP's Entertainer of the Year award after having just entered the limelight, given the singer rose to popularity only a year ago.
Earlier in the night, fashion mogul Rihanna was awarded the NAACP 2020 President's Award, which is given in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service. It’s one of the historic organization’s most prestigious awards.
In her acceptance speech, Rihanna told those who break bread with Black folks to “pull up” in the fight against oppression.
"They wanna break bread with you, right? They like you? Well then, this is their problem too,” the artist said. “When we're marching and protesting and posting about the Michael Brown Jrs. and the Atatiana Jeffersons of the world, tell your friends to pull up."
The NAACP has since released a statement tabbing Rihanna as a groundbreaking musician and a stellar public servant.