Erykah Badu's Winning Moments
All Badu do is win, win, win, watch BET Honors to see why.
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Rock Star - Pregnant with her third child, Mars Merkaba Thedford, in 2009 and glowing, the singer graciously accepted her Rock Star Award at the 3rd Annual Black Girls Rock!, saying that being on stage is “therapy for me.” Another honoree, Paralympic athlete April Holmes, confessed that Badu’s "Bag Lady" inspired her during the recovery of her leg amputation from a 2001 train accident. (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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Headwraps and Rim Shots - Rocking a sky-high turban and cleverly mixing old soul sounds with hip hip beats, Erykah Badu, born Erica Wright, helped define the neo-soul movement when she dropped her 1997 critically acclaimed debut, Baduizm. That same year the artist took home a bevy of awards, including her first Billboard Music Video Award for Best New Artist Clip for her hit song “On & On.” (Photo: Sue Moore/PA Photos /Landov)
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No Stopping Baduizm - Riding high off the success of 1997’s Baduizm, which hit No. 2 on the charts, the Dallas native snagged a much deserved American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)
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Lady of Soul - No other female singer stood a chance against Badu's anthem “Tyrone,” which earned her two 1998 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year and Best R&B/Soul Single. The hit was featured on her 1997 Live album. (Photo: David McNew/REUTERS /Landov)
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Hip Hop Love Song - Four years after the introduction of neo-soul’s reigning queen, Badu’s sophomore album, Mama’s Gun, showed she could flip her style. Yet it was her performance on the Roots’ "You Got Me” that earned her the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The single is featured on the Roots’ 1999 Things Fall Apart album. (Photo: Mike Segar /Landov)
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Award Tour - The 1998 Soul Train Awards was all about Badu, who received four nominations and won them all, including two for Best Soul Album. It was clear the singer with the sweet voice was here to stay. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)
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Her Cypher Keeps Moving “On & On” - Badu’s debut record, which channeled the great Billie Holiday, was a gust of fresh air. The songstress’ creative efforts paid off in 1998 when she took home two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance for "On & On" and Best R&B Album. (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)
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Hello Hollywood - Proving her talent extends beyond the stage, Badu starred opposite Charlize Theron and wowed moviegoers with her performance as Rose Rose in 1999’s The Cider House Rules. The film industry noticed and in 2000 she won Best Supporting Actress at the Black Reel Awards. (Photo: Stephan Vaughan/Miramax Films)
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A Union Made in Hip Hop Heaven - Badu released her third critically acclaimed album, Worldwide Underground, in 2003 and another huge hit with "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)" from the 2002 movie Brown Sugar. Partnering with Common, the single became a music-lover’s theme song and earned the couple a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and a Black Reel Award for Best Film Song. (Photo:Chris Weeks/Liaison), (Photo: Fox searchlight Pictures)
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Director's Cut - Nominated for five BET Awards in 2003, Badu won her first for Video of the Year for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)" featuring Common. The video, which was directed by the singer and Chris Robinson, captures a kaleidoscope of hip hop history and stars from Kool Herc to break-dance pioneer Crazy Legs to Chuck D. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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