Lenny Kravitz performed a medley spanning his more than 35-year career at the People’s Choice Awards on Sunday. The musician was also the recipient of the Music Icon Award during the ceremony.
Performing in the middle of the audience before strutting up the catwalk to join his band at the mainstage, he launched into a funky “Fly Away” followed by new track “TK421,” and then he segued into the hopeful “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over” before turning things up for “Let Love Rule” and the scorching “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
During his inspiring acceptance speech for the Music Icon Award, he discussed staying true to oneself and the importance of love.
“I kept going back to that word icon. And it means a lot of things to a lot of people. But to me, it means you’ve made an indelible mark by being who God created you to be and daring to be different,” he said.
“My music wasn’t Black enough. It wasn’t white enough. It didn’t fit nicely inside the box, or sound like what was on the radio at the time,” he continued. “And I turned down the money and the glitzy promises and fame and stardom because I couldn’t live with myself doing something inauthentic. An icon to me is someone who inspires and teaches others to believe in themselves and their direction, whatever that direction is.”
Kravitz also had advice for aspiring artists: “Never follow the trends, set your own pace, and recognize that the best is right here right now in front of you,” he said.
He concluded by saying, “Music is about bringing us all together. And the whole reason I create and perform music is to amplify love. There’s no barrier between performer and audience. It’s all about all of us embracing love and unity in this world that God has given us. Love is the strongest power and love will win. We are all one. One God, one people, one planet. Let love rule, y’all. Thank you.”
Before his performance, Kravitz reflected on his creative process with NBC affiliate KGET. “It is a feeling,” Kravitz told the station. “You keep sculpting and molding. One day you listen, and you know it is done. It tells you it is done. When I am writing and working, I stay as far away from it as possible.
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Kravitz will be releasing his 12th studio album, Blue Electric Light,on May 24. Earlier this month, the four-time Grammy winner who was also a Global Impact Award recipient, honored Clarence Avant during the In Memoriam segment. His song “Road to Freedom” for the Netflix film Rustin was nominated for a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award earlier this year.
Kravitz joined Kylie Minogue and Lainey Wilson as performers during Sunday evening’s ceremony. Held this year at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica and hosted by Simu Liu (who is nominated for Movie Performance of the Year for his role as one of the Kens in Barbie), the annual People’s Choice Awards recognize the best in film, TV, music, and pop culture, with the winners determined by votes from the public.