Aaliyah's Absence Felt At Lady Of Soul Awards
8/29/01

SANTA MONICA, California The seventh annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards provided a night of triumph for such artists as Jill Scott, 3LW and Destiny's Child, though a sadness loomed large over the ceremony as attendees mourned the loss of one of R&B's most promising young stars.

Throughout Tuesday night's show, performers and winners at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium made dedications to 22-year-old singer/actress Aaliyah, who died along with eight others in a plane crash over the weekend (see "Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash").

Destiny's Child set the tone with their show-opening performance of "Emotion."

"This song is dedicated to a very special friend of ours that we lost, Aaliyah," Kelly Rowland said, introducing the Bee Gees-penned tune from the stage. Backstage, Beyoncé Knowles appeared to be on the verge of breaking down in tears as she spoke about her late friend. "She was so sweet, always," she said, while gripping Kelly's hand. "She was one of the most beautiful people on the inside as well as out. It's tragic. Every night we pray for her family and everyone else's family."

Aaliyah's "Try Again" was up for Song of the Year, but lost to gospel artist Yolanda Adams. "I definitely have to say that Aaliyah was a very special part of my life," Adams said onstage. "We will miss her."

Patti LaBelle accepted her Lena Horne Award for outstanding career achievement in Aaliyah's honor. "I know we are all thinking about our friend Aaliyah," LaBelle told the audience. "All of this happiness I'm getting tonight is sort of mixed because of something else that's real. Know that we can't take tonight for granted. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us."

LaBelle said that if Aaliyah's life hadn't been cut short, her bright career eventually would have earned her a lifetime achievement award. "With her talent, one day she would have accepted it I was just doing it because she's not here," LaBelle later said backstage.

Tyrese, who said he had to break the news of Aaliyah's death to Missy Elliott and R. Kelly, told reporters, "It's just sad because she's supposed to be here."

"I've never met her, but I was devastated when I heard," Blu Cantrell, who performed "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" during the show, said backstage. "I think it touched home with a lot of people everywhere, being that she was so young, so talented and so beautiful. She'll always be a beautiful girl. That will never end."

Jill Scott was the night's top winner with three honors, including the pre-announced Aretha Franklin Award for entertainer of the year. "Oh, thank you I love me, too," she quipped after DJ Jazzy Jeff presented her with the honor. She went on to profusely thank her mother, whom she credited for nurturing her curiosities about music at a young age.

Newcomers 3LW trailed behind Scott with two honors, picking up Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist and R&B/Soul Album of the Year, Group for their self-titled debut. "We were really nervous, we couldn't believe it, we were shaking," member Adrienne Bailon said backstage. "We're three girls of color, and all our lives we've aspired to go up there and actually win these awards, and it's just a wonderful accomplishment for us." Erykah Badu, Missy Elliott and Mary Mary also won awards.

Co-hosted by Eve, Luther Vandross, Leeza Gibbons and Shemar Moore, the Lady of Soul Awards will air in syndication starting Saturday. Scott, Alicia Keys and Dream were also among the performers.

Suge Knight, head of Tha Row/Death Row Records, apparently crashed the ceremony, coming through the back door of the auditorium and making his way all the way up to the front row. A show spokesperson said the record mogul, who was released from prison earlier this month after serving five years, was not expected.

Another seemingly unlikely guest though not a surprise one was former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. "Soul Train was one of the things I grew up on, so when I was invited to this [show] I jumped at it," he said.

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