Mariah Carey Shocked By Stellar Tribute From Patti LaBelle, Coco Jones, Boyz II Men And More For TheGrio Awards
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At the second annual TheGrio Awards, which aired on Saturday (Nov. 25), Mariah Carey was honored with the Music Icon Award. The best way to pay tribute to a legend of her caliber is with fellow icons. Thus, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Boyz II Men, and Carey’s godmother, Patti LaBelle, were called to celebrate the darling’s career.
Hudson tackled Carey’s debut single, “Vision Of Love,” while LaBelle serenaded her “baby” with the 1990 ballad, “Love Takes Time.” Later, Jones and Boyz II Men sang the historic chart-topping classic, “One Sweet Day.”
Hudson opened the tribute and the Long Island, NY native explained on The Jennifer Hudson Show prior that the EGOT winner “made it into a whole movie” because “you’re an Oscar winner, dahling.” Naturally, the Dreamgirls star turned the record into a gospel hymn.
Later, the mother of two seemed utterly captivated while watching the Godmother of Soul transform “Love Takes Time” into a song all her own.
When the Philly-bred trio took the stage alongside Jones, viewers were transported back to 1995 with the help of the nostalgic melody. There were mixed reactions to Jones’ performance, but Carey said the tribute was “incredible” and her opinion is worth more than gold.
During her acceptance speech, Carey reflected on the moment she first met Eddie Murphy, who received with the Icon Award that evening. It was on the heels of her debut single’s release and he recognized her at an airport.
“Somehow I snuck away from my first ex-husband [Tommy Mottola], and wound up in an airport store when suddenly I looked up and Eddie Murphy, my favorite star of all time, said to me, the unknown girl who had one song… ‘Hey, aren’t you Mariah Carey?’ Maybe I was in shock or something but I just looked right at him and said, ‘And aren’t you Eddie Murphy?’ like so obnoxious,” she joked.
Watch her tribute above.
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