ContestsEvents

LISTEN LIVE

H.E.R. Says ‘R&B And Soul Music Is The Foundation Of Country Music’

In her acceptance speech of Best Female R&B / Pop Artist, H.E.R. proclaimed that R&B music is in no way, shape or form, dead… and that other genres owe a…

BET Awards 2021 - Backstage

H.E.R. attends the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

In her acceptance speech of Best Female R&B / Pop Artist, H.E.R. proclaimed that R&B music is in no way, shape or form, dead... and that other genres owe a huge debt to Black music.

"I just want you guys to know how important this stage is. How important it is for us to recognize each other and to celebrate each other," H.E.R. said in her speech. "We all know sometimes if we don't, who else will?"

"I had the pleasure of being on a stage of a different genre -- a completely different genre," she said, referring to her recent performance on the Country Music Television (CMT) Awards two weeks ago.

"You know, they asked me, 'What are you bringing to this stage? It's a completely different world, you know, you come from R&B.' It was a country stage. I said, 'Well, R&B and Soul music is the foundation of country music.'" H.E.R. declared proudly.

The 24-year-old singer said, "There wouldn't be a lot of those other genres if it were not for Black music. And when they say R&B is dead, or R&B is not alive, I'm like, it's in everything."

Watch the speech below:

2021 BET Awards Red Carpet Best Dressed Ranked

Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.