Los Angeles: Singer Lionel Richie bagged the Lifetime Achievement award at the BET Awards. Pharrell Williams introduced the tribute to Richie, which included clips of the singer`s career. Afterward, John Legend sang a medley of Richie`s `Hello` and `Still`, reportedly.
Then R&B singer Richie, 67, performed `Brick House`, `The Commodores`. Finally, Yolanda Adams sang `Jesus Is Love`, which earned her a standing ovation.
"After listening to `Jesus Is Love,` I`m glad I sang the song first. Otherwise, I would not be up here. That was absolutely amazing," Richie said while accepting the award. "Everyone did a great job."
"These are all the songs that they told me would ruin my career. Soul is a feeling, not a colour. Talent is a God-given gift and not a category. And out of the box, out of the box is that magical place where talent -- true talent -- goes to live and thrive and breathe. And may you never give that up as long as you`re in this business," he added.
After his speech, Richie headed to the piano for `Easy Like Sunday Morning`. Following that, he finished his performance with the favourite `All Night Long`. The 2014 BET Awards has kicked off at Nokia Theater.