Auntie Patti LaBelle rankled many BET Awards viewers Sunday night after she fumbled her Tina Turner tribute performance.
The band began to play LaBelle’s rendition of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s 1989 hit, “The Best,” while LaBelle stood on stage ready to give what many presumed would be one of the greatest tribute performances because the “If Only You Knew” singer is an icon herself.
LaBelle started the intro and part of the first well until she got to the “Mm, and it can’t be wrong / Take my heart and make it strong, baby” portion.
She excelled in the chorus but butchered the second verse.
“What if I can’t see the words I don’t know,” she sang in place of Turner’s lyrics. “I’m trying, y’all!”
The remainder of the tribute continued flawlessly without a hitch. A choir appeared and repeatedly sang, “Simply the best,” in a gospel style.
:21in “I can’t see the words, I’m trying y’all”
Patti LaBelle, 79- tribute for Tina Turner (was 83)
“Simply the Best.. better than all the rest” (1989)
+Appreciative audience reaction cutaways#BetAwards2023 #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/iUNAlgDkn5— Alex Belser (@AlexBelser) June 26, 2023
LaBelle struggled with the lyrics because she couldn’t see the teleprompter.
Unfortunately, the performance didn’t sit right with some viewers, while others found it funny.
Patti Labelle was dead wrong
— Dolly’s wife 💍 (@naelacole) June 26, 2023
I’m sorry Patti Labelle,as much as I love you, your Tina Turner tribute and not knowing the words to the song was highly disrespectful and unprofessional. 😪🙏🏾
— frederick grigsby🥋🐘 (@payne12) June 26, 2023
Patti LaBelle trying to get through this Tina Turner tribute #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/SswCRrEADt
— ❄️🗝️ (@DiaryOfKeysus) June 26, 2023
Patti Labelle doing a part 2 to this iconic moment just now #BETAwards😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/wfHtnafhpu
— jelly 🌸 (@jiwoofish) June 26, 2023
Rae Christine, soccer team Chicago Red Stars’ director of marketing and communications, revealed her section caused the “Lady Marmalade” singer’s mishap.
“LMAO, y’all, Patti couldn’t see the teleprompter because [because] our section was standing in front of it,” she wrote in a video.
Lmaooooo #BetAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/qGuVqAe8Kz
— Rae Christine (@raechristine__) June 26, 2023
LaBelle is a 79-year-old who has excelled in many tribute performances, especially her tribute to Aretha Franklin. She has performed for over 40 years and will likely forget some lyrics. Plus, award shows are known to add last-minute tribute performances — exhibit the Lionel Richie tribute performance at the ACM Awards by Stevie Wonder and Charlie Puth. Let’s cut her some slack!
