{"id":1009,"date":"2025-06-11T18:35:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T18:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=1009"},"modified":"2025-06-12T14:57:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:57:25","slug":"the-bet-awards-gave-me-a-full-circle-moment-i-didnt-see-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/11\/the-bet-awards-gave-me-a-full-circle-moment-i-didnt-see-coming\/","title":{"rendered":"The BET Awards Gave Me A Full Circle Moment I Didn\u2019t See Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Watching 106 & Park\u2019s<\/em> Top Ten video countdown was a childhood ritual, just like gathering around the television to watch the BET <\/a>Awards, which always signaled summer was officially underway.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s crazy to think it\u2019s been 25 years since the first episode of 106 & Park <\/em>aired, <\/em>originally hosted by AJ Calloway<\/a> and Free Marie Wright.<\/a> Back then, my childhood dream was to be in that audience. And this year, it came full circle as I found myself sitting in the audience at this year\u2019s BET Awards<\/a>. It may not have been the official 106 & Park<\/em> audience like back in the day\u2014but being in the crowd as BET paid tribute to the show that shaped so much of my childhood? That was more than enough.<\/p>\n

I should preface this by saying 106 & Park <\/em>was the first time I saw something that visualized what I wanted to be when I grew up. Free Marie walked so I could be where I am today. That\u2019s why seeing the show honored during Monday night\u2019s awards was such a soul-stirring experience for me.<\/p>\n

So when BET opened the show with a full-on tribute\u2014reuniting former hosts (minus AJ and Rocsi<\/a>), taking us down memory lane by reviving the set, and blessing us with live performances from some of the artists who once dominated the Top Ten countdown including Ashanti,<\/a> Amerie<\/a>, M\u00fda<\/a>, Keyshia Cole<\/a>, B2K<\/a>, and Mr. 106 & Park<\/em> himself, Bow Wow<\/a> it was my teenage dream<\/a> playing out in real-time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Despite all of the Black joy occurring inside the theater, chaos, and tension boiled outside in downtown Los Angeles, with President Donald Trump deploying military forces in response to the city\u2019s immigration protests.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

With Kevin Hart<\/a> as the host (not holding back on any of his jokes), nostalgia was the main course at this year\u2019s awards show, and I lived for every minute of it.<\/p>\n

Just before everything kicked off, DeLe\u00f3n Tequila<\/a>\u2019s pregame takeover on the carpet was the place to be. Jharrel Jerome<\/a>, Dominique Perry, Teedra Moses<\/a> and several cast members from BMF<\/a><\/em> floated in and out for the vibe and a cocktail (or two) before making their way into the Peacock Theater for the main event.<\/p>\n

And trust me when I say the energy inside the Peacock Theater was unmatched. It was a true Black-tie affair, with everyone adorned in their finest clothes and jewelry to celebrate what truly lived up to its title: \u201cCulture\u2019s Biggest Night.\u201d However, it\u2019s equally important to mention that despite all of the Black joy occurring inside the theater, chaos, and tension boiled outside in downtown Los Angeles<\/a>, with President Donald Trump <\/a>deploying military forces in response to the city\u2019s immigration protests.<\/p>\n

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Yet, in the true nature and spirit of Black people during trying times. We showed up, showed out and held on to every ounce of happiness we could muster. The nearly five-hour show paid tribute to legends Mariah Carey<\/a>, Snoop Dogg,<\/a> Kirk Franklin and Jamie Foxx<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t a dry eye in the building when Foxx accepted his Lifetime Achievement Award, using the moment to reflect on his second chance at life following a near-fatal stroke in 2024. And our girl Mariah? She reminded us it\u2019s okay to be a diva, or in her case, extra fabulous, just as long as you\u2019re living for yourself and no one else.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s keep it real for a second. When Kendrick Lamar<\/a> was announced as the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, the crowd, including myself, just knew we were about to be hit with the \u201cKendrick <\/a>couldn\u2019t be here tonight\u201d statement, so we braced ourselves. After all, his Grand National Tour <\/em>partner, SZA<\/a> (sis just arrived fashionably late), won in the Best Female R&B\/Pop Artist category. But even presenter Keke Palmer<\/a> looked shocked when Kendrick actually showed up to accept his award and popped up onstage to remind fellow artists that you\u2019re never too big for BET\u2014the platform that always embraces our own.<\/p>\n

Aside from the nostalgia and love that filled the room, another notable takeaway was the way each, if not all, of the winners, took a moment to speak to the power of faith and working alongside God to make their dreams a reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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I told myself then: the next time I\u2019m here, I\u2019ll be working it. In 2024, that dream came true. I worked the red carpet for the first time. And in 2025? I leveled up in a way I couldn\u2019t have scripted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

As I sat there in the audience, I couldn\u2019t help but think back to my very first BET Awards experience. It was the summer after my first year of college.<\/p>\n

My roommate\u2019s dad, Anthony Nelson, worked at BET and brought us out to Los Angeles to enjoy the show. The moment was one of many firsts for me. It was my first flight, my first time in LA and my first awards show<\/a>. The irony of it all is at the time I was studying broadcast journalism with dreams of being one of the voices I saw on the carpet. I told myself then: the next time I\u2019m here, I\u2019ll be working it. In 2024, that dream came true. I worked the red carpet<\/a> for the first time. And in 2025? I leveled up in a way I couldn\u2019t have scripted. Proof that if you have a dream and the courage to pursue it, the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n

Before the show closed, Kirk Franklin<\/a> took us to church with a speech that shifted my soul. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not even a perfect artist because I can\u2019t even sing, which makes this award even more amazing because what I really do doesn\u2019t make sense. If you\u2019re listening to this, that\u2019s when you know it\u2019s God, when you don\u2019t make sense. When you got that job, you were least qualified for. It doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Melodies from Heaven<\/em> gospel icon didn\u2019t stop there\u2014he kept going, reminding us exactly why he\u2019s been a staple in our playlists and prayers for decades. \u201cYou\u2019re the first in your family to break generational curses, but you\u2019re the same one the family talks about. It doesn\u2019t make sense. When you try to explain how favor ain\u2019t fair. How those that hate on you end up only helping you. It doesn\u2019t make sense. And lastly, those same people, look how quickly they come back around when you finally make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was then that it truly hit me. None of this journey\u2014106 & Park<\/em>, broadcast dreams, red carpet moments<\/a>, media seats at the BET Awards\u2014none of it really made sense until I realized God continues to show me just how good it can get. With every opportunity, every milestone, every step along this journey, I\u2019m exactly where I\u2019m meant to be. And that\u2019s how I know it\u2019s real and destined to be on this path. <\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doechii Used Her BET Win To Call Out Trump<\/a><\/p>\n

Usher’s BET Tribute Was (Correctly) Led By Women<\/a><\/p>\n

On Kendrick’s Super Bowl Halftime Show & America<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Watching 106 & Park\u2019s Top Ten video countdown was a childhood ritual, just like gathering around the television to watch the BET Awards, which always signaled summer was officially underway. It\u2019s crazy to think it\u2019s been 25 years since the first episode of 106 & Park aired, originally hosted by AJ Calloway and Free Marie…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1014,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions\/1014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}