Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Patti LaBelle forget the lyrics as she said she can’t see the words during tributes to Tina Turner at the 2023 BET Awards.
Lady Marmalade singer Patti, 79, had been invited to sing Tina’s classic song The Best on stage at the star-studded awards in Los Angeles, California on Sunday.
Turner died on May 24 at the age of 83 following a long illness. The legendary musician was best known for songs such as Proud Mary, River Deep – Mountain High, Nutbush City Limits and, of course, The Best, which Patti was tasked with belting out.
Speaking after the performance, Patti explained that she was having issues with her voice, telling Entertainment Tonight: ‘It meant no matter what voice I’m in – I’m hoarse, I have a cold – but whatever, I had to, I was giving it up for Tina Turner, ’cause she’s simply the best.
‘So you heard a little tweak every now and then out there, but I love her, and I did my best.’
It wasn’t long before the flub went viral on social media and, while some viewers laughed and praised how Patti recovered, others accused the singer of being disrespectful to Turner. Twitter, of course, was less kind than those seated in the Microsoft Theater. “Patti not knowing the words to Tina’s song is absolutely absurd and disrespectful,” one of many tweets on the topic read. “Who doesn’t learn the words to a 34-year-old song for a TRIBUTE?” marveled another.
LaBelle’s struggle was one of only a few meaningful hiccups during the live, three-and-a-half hour telecast — which is saying something, since this year’s BET Awards revolved around a celebration of 50 years of hip hop that took the form of an utterly astonishing amount of nearly non-stop, breakneck performances by artists past and present.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll queen Tina Turner died at the age of 83 battling a long illness at her home near Zurich in Switzerland.
LaBelle said on stage, “God Bless you, Tina Turner!”
“I am honored that I can pay tribute to the late music queen.”
The BET Awards are airing live from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
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