The 2012 Soul Train Awards was a celebration of R&B/Soul music like no other! Taped at Planet Hollywood Live Las Vegas and simultaneously airing on BET and Centric, the ceremony was hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, who tried to “soul Vegas up” in vignettes throughout the show. This was the first Soul Train awards after the untimely passing of founder/creator Don Cornelius, whose influence on music is still felt till this day. The show was filled with tributes to Cornelius and words from his son Tony Cornelius, a moment symbolizing the passing of the torch.
There were so many great performances. The show opened with a medley of performances by Raphael Saadiq channeling Johnnie Taylor, Leah Labelle’s tribute to Teena Marie with “Square Biz”, Anthony Hamilton sang Bill Wither’s “Lovely Day,” and Fantasia had the auditorium shouting with her Aretha Franklin cover of “Don’t Play That Song For Me.” Charlie Wilson performed his Gap Band hit “Outstanding.” NeYo broke it down with “Let Me Love You” in an all cream ensemble, and Keyshia Cole belted “Trust and Believe” then melted in to “Enough of No Love” minus Lil Wayne. John Legend performed “Tonight (Best You’ve Ever Had)” while seated at the piano surrounded by female dancers. Miguel rocked out with “Adorn,” while Charlie Wilson showed Cedric the Entertainer how to do it old school with his single “My Love Is All I Have.” Elle Varner looked and sounded stunning with her performance of “Refill.” The world got a whiff of what we can expect from TGT (a mega R&B group consisting of Tyrese, Ginuwine, and Tank) as Tyrese brought out the other two after his performance of “Stay.” X-Factor contestant Marcus Canty would have made Luther Vandross proud with his tribute to Luther Vandross by singing “Never Too Much.” Eddie Levert tributeed his son’s Gerald and Sean with the Levert hit “Cassanova.” Rapper 2 Chainz had the venue hyped with the PG version of “Birthday Song” and “Different.” Stevie Wonder closed the show with “Supersitious.”
New Edition was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 30-years in the business. After their acceptance speech, they took to the stage to perform a medley of hits such as “Candy Girl,” “If It Isn’t Love,” and “Mr. Telephone Man,” proving they still got it.
The winners of The 2012 Soul Train Awards Winners are:
Best New Artistâ Elle Varner
Centric Award – Leah Labelle
Best Gospel/ Inspirational Performance – Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks’ “Celebrate”
Best Hip Hop Song of the Year â Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz “Mercy”
Best R&B/ Soul Female Artist â Beyoncé
Best R&B/ Soul Male Artist – Miguel
Album of the Year – â¨Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange
Song of the Year – â¨Tyrese’s “Stay”
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award â”Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”: John Legend feat. Ludacris
Best Dance Performance: Beyonce â “Love On Top”
Check out all the hot performances below by scrolling through the playlist:
The 2012 Soul Train Awards was a night for the ages. Music fans from around the world tuned in to watch their favorite stars take home awards, perform must-see performances and celebrate decades of soul music culture. From Jennifer Hudson’s showstopping performance to Usher’s emotional speech, it was an event you couldn’t miss! Let’s recap some of the highlights from this amazing evening.
The star-studded red carpet drew plenty of attention before the ceremony even began. The crowd went wild as some of today’s biggest celebrities strutted their stuff down the carpet. Singers Brandy and Chris Brown were just two of many who made appearances on the red carpet that night.
Once everyone had taken their seats, host Cedric The Entertainer took center stage and welcomed everyone with an electrifying opening monologue. He joked about current events while paying homage to legendary musicians like James Brown and Chaka Khan–a perfect way to kick off such a special event! With that, let’s dive into all the action from this memorable night at the 2012 Soul Train Awards!
Overview Of Performances
The 2012 Soul Train Awards was a night of powerful performances and special tributes. The show kicked off with an electrifying opening number featuring stars like Tyrese, Trey Songz, Fantasia, Monica, Tank, Tamar Braxton and more. Each artist brought their own unique flavor to the stage in this high-energy performance that set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Next up were two incredible tribute segments honoring music legends Chaka Khan and Bobby Brown. Hosted by Erykah Badu and Jill Scott respectively, these heartfelt medleys celebrated each musician’s impressive career while highlighting some of their most iconic hits. From “Ain’t Nobody” to “My Prerogative,” fans got an exciting glimpse into the past as they sang along to old favorites from both artists.
To close out the night, R&B crooner Ne-Yo took the stage for a heartwarming performance dedicated to Trayvon Martin’s family. He played one of his biggest hits “So Sick” before transitioning into a rousing rendition of Stevie Wonder’s classic song “Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours).” It was a powerful moment that left many viewers moved and inspired.
Notable Moments
Throughout the night, there were many special moments that made for a truly memorable evening. One of the most talked-about came during an intimate performance by Tyrese and Monica featuring their hit duet “Take Me Away”. The audience was brought to its feet as they sang together in perfect harmony, giving fans a glimpse into what it would have been like to see them perform together back in 2004 when the song first released.
The show also featured some touching tributes throughout the ceremony. From honoring music legend Chaka Khan with a heartfelt medley led by Erykah Badu to recognizing Bobby Brown’s impact on R&B music with Jill Scott at the helm, each segment was filled with emotion and respect. Ne-Yo even closed out his set with a tribute to Trayvon Martin’s family which left many viewers moved and inspired.
Overall, this year’s Soul Train Awards provided plenty of incredible performances while paying homage to some of today’s biggest icons in music. It was an unforgettable night that showcased just how powerful music can be – both now and in years past.
Conclusion
The 2012 Soul Train Awards was a night full of amazing performances, touching moments and unforgettable memories. It’s clear that the artists put their heart and soul into every performance, showing their true musical passion. From Usher to Jennifer Hudson to Chris Brown, each act brought something special to the stage. The audience was also treated to some unexpected surprises from guest stars like Mary J Blige and Patti LaBelle.
One of the most memorable moments of the night had to be when Brandy reunited with Monica for a duet on “The Boy Is Mine.” This iconic duo hadn’t performed together in over 13 years – it was an emotional moment for everyone watching! Another highlight was when Faith Evans accepted her Lady Of Soul award with grace and humility. Her speech about how music has helped her through tough times moved many in attendance.
All things considered, this year’s Soul Train Awards showed us why we love music so much: its power to bring people together and evoke emotion no matter who you are or where you come from. Music truly is a universal language!
