While recent awards shows have been a disappointment for R&B fans, there’s one show every year you can count on for showcasing the best in Black soul and R&B talent. The annual Soul Train Music Awards airs on Sunday, December 1 on BET and Centric at 8 p.m. and this year, Anthony Anderson does the honors as the show’s host.
Performances by Chaka Khan, Eric Benet, Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle, Janelle Monae and more are part of the show’s highlights. Dionne Warwick is this year’s recipient of the Legend Award while crooner Keith Sweat picks up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“A little known fact is I was in a singing group back in the 90’s. I sign and play piano. I’m a Renaissance man.,” Anderson told Skip Cheatham, sitting in for Tom Joyner this week. “I was in a singing group called Lustacy. So I convinced the fellas to get back together just to do a Soul Train appearance. Lustacy is back together for one night only. We give Dionne Warwick the Legend award this year and all these artists came through and sang vintage Dionne Warwick songs all on the stage at the same time. Outside of Lustacy performing, I think that may have been the showstopper right there.”
Anderson also clears up one Soul Train Awards related rumor. Some outlets reported that when the awards was taped a while back, Jennifer Hudson refused to share a stage with Chaka Khan.
“What? Where are you getting your intel from? I’m a tell you this right now, that was not the case. It’s Jennifer Hudson’s song and she was gracious enough to have Chaka onstage with her. I don’t know what the turmoil was, I just know it was a great performance by Jennifer, Chaka and Evelyn “Champagne” King.”
Listen above to hear Anderson talk exclusively about good friend DMX…
