Legendary songstress Anita Baker announced her plans to retire from music after this year, and it looks like BET plans to send her off in great style as she is set to receive the network’s Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s BET Awards.
"Anita Baker is a legendary R&B singer whose soulful voice takes control of any room she’s in," the network writes of Baker’s legacy. "Baker’s music resonated with audiences of all ages and races alike. With her extensive body of work, which spans decades, Baker continues to be one of the most legendary artists of all time."
Over the span of 40 years, Anita Baker has released seven albums, won eight Grammy Awards, and sold millions of records that including soul classics like “Sweet Love,” “Caught Up In The Rapture, and “Giving You The Best That I Got.” Earlier in the year, Baker announced he plans to take her final bow with a farewell tour.
Along with Baker, BET will also award other pre-selected honorees with humanitarian awards including the “Waffle House hero” James Shaw Jr., Parkland shooting survivor Anthony Borges, anti-gun violence activists Naomi Wadler and Justin Blackmon, writer Shaun King, and French “spiderman” Mamoudou Gassama.
This year’s ceremony takes place on Sunday, June 24th in Los Angeles and will be led by host Jamie Foxx as viewers look on to see who else takes trophies among nominees that include Cardi B, The Weeknd, SZA, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Tiffany Haddish, Donald Glover, Lebron James and more.