On Sunday, singer Beyonce won BET Awards. Former first lady Michelle Obama honored the lemonade singer with the 2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Michelle Obama praised the singer in a video. She said,

“I am here to talk about The Queen, you know the one. Ever since she was a little girl in Houston, Beyoncé Knowles Carter has been lighting up the stages and gracing the world with her talent, with her generosity of spirit and with her love for her community.”

She added,

“You can see it in everything she does. From her music that gives voice to Black joy and Black pain to her activism that demands justice for Black Lives. And no matter how big the stages get, I know my girl isn’t satisfied unless she’s sharing all that shine she has with the next generation.” 

The work of Beyoncé was illustrated in the video, highlighting all of her programs ranging from healthcare, low-income housing to the global epidemic that the coronavirus pandemic has caused.

“That’s why she’s calling out sexism and racism when she sees it, paving a path for new artists trying to navigate the music industry.” 

The former first lady went on to say,

“She’s always turning up, looking out, and making us all a little bit better, a little more fierce. To my girl, I just want to say, you inspire me. You inspire all of us. Congratulations girl, love you so much.”

Beyonce thanked everyone and dedicated her award to “to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change.”

She went on to say,

“Your voices are being heard. And you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”

Beyonce concluded by saying,

“I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to work to change a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does.”