“The Soul Train Awards” honoree Janelle Monáe left viewers floating as she opened this year’s ceremony, hosted by Keke Palmer, with a vibrant performance of their latest single, “Float.” With champagne glasses raised high throughout the crowd, the singer joined in as she gave a toast to life, goals, moments not yet made, and “to the people they can’t erase.”

Monáe unraveled from her flower cloak and appeared in a suit coat-styled leotard as she kept the vibes going with a performance of “Champagne S—t.”  They later called host Keke to join in on the moment. 

The “Lipstick Lover” singer accepted this year’s “Spirited of Soul Award,” presented by  Bobbi Lanea Tyler and Folayan Omi Kunerede of the viral hip hop stars Flyana Boss. “It’s nothing like being recognized by your own—by your own family—yall are family to me,” they shared while accepting the honor. 

“Thank you for keeping the soul alive. So many people have reinvented that word, and I am just so honored to have something like this for us that continues to evolve and showcase so many different forms of what soul can be,” the singer began. 

Monáe reflected on the spirit of their grandmother.  “Let the spirit use you, baby. Let the spirit use you—my grandmother would always say that. And I’m just so thankful for her spirit. Her spirit was one of humbleness. Her spirit was one of taking care of our family.”

The star continued, “She would always tell me, ‘Take care of your family, babe. Take care of your family.’ And that is what I’ve tried to do since the beginning of my career is take care of my family. Y’all are my family. I wanted to shine a light on our community through my storytelling, through the art that I make, through movies, music, fashion; bringing it back around to us, to our Blackness, to our beauty.”

Monáe also paid tribute to several industry icons, including Grace Jones, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and the late singer and musician, Prince, “whose spirit taught me I’m not a woman. I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand.” 

The singer wrapped up her speech by calling out “systemic injustice and abuses of power that have gone unchallenged for way too long” before asking viewers to “let the spirit of love use you. Let the spirit of kindness use you. Let the spirit of empathy use you. Let the spirit of peace be your guide always and forever. And may our spirits guide us toward creating a safe and equitable place for our people.