Highlights and Winners From the 2023 Soul Train Awards

Hosted by Keke Palmer, the event showcased some of the best of the best of R&B/Soul music of this year.

Keke Palmer attends the 2023 BET Soul Train Awards on November 19, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Getty Images Monica Schipper/WireImage

This year the 2023 Soul Train Awards went off without a hitch! And while L.A.’s unusually windy weather made for a more interesting turn of events seeing as how it was hosted outside, the night was still filled with special performances from our faves and big wins for others.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Don Lemon Breaks Down How He’s Building His Media Empire

And since y’all already know we root for everybody Black over on this side, let’s go ahead and get into some of the aforementioned goodness.

Best New Artist: Coco Jones

Photo: Getty Images Elyse Jankowski/Billboard Photo: Getty Images Elyse Jankowski/Billboard

A much deserved win, Coco Jones took home the award for Best New Artist. We C U, sis!

Certified Soul Award: Usher

Photo: Getty Images Ethan Miller Photo: Getty Images Ethan Miller

The King of R&B (and King of Vegas) also took home the award for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist and Best Collaboration for his song “Good, Good” with 21 Savage and Summer Walker as well.

Album of the Year: SZA

Photo: Getty Images Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan Photo: Getty Images Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan

The S.O.S. singer also took home to award for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, Song of the Year and the Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award for her hit song, “Snooze.”

Video of the Year: Victoria Monét

Photo: Getty Images Santiago Felipe Photo: Getty Images Santiago Felipe

The “Alright” singer also took home to award for Best Dance Performance for her hit single “On my Mama.”

Spirit of Soul: Janelle Monae

 

Photo: Getty Images Elyse Jankowski/Billboard Photo: Getty Images Elyse Jankowski/Billboard

Janelle Monae “floated” in with a win for the Spirit of Soul Award.

The Legend Award: T-Pain

Photo: Getty Images Aaron J. Thornton for BET Photo: Getty Images Aaron J. Thornton for BET

It should go without saying why, but T-Pain was honored with the prestigious Legend Award.

Best Group: Maverick City Music

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

For Best Group, Maverick City took home the golden award.

Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: Kirk Franklin

Photo: Getty Images Marcus Ingram Photo: Getty Images Marcus Ingram

Kirk Franklin took home the award for Best Gospel/Inspirational for “All Things.”

Highlighted Performance: BJ the Chicago Kid and Coco Jones

The two singers joined vocal forces together to perform BJ’s hit single, “Spend the Night” off his recently released album, Gravy.

Highlighted Performance: Keke Palmer

Who ever said the host couldn’t also be a performer? Keke Palmer showed us all why she’s the girl who can do it all by performing her new song, “Ungorgeous.”

Highlighted Performance: T-Pain

The country boy from Tallahassee took us on a trip down memory lane and we loved him for it!

Highlighted Performance: SWV and Coco Jones

There’s a reason why the internet named SWV and Coco Jones the duo we never knew we needed.

Highlighted Performances: Janelle Monae

There’s no way we could give Janelle Monae the Spirit of Soul Award without hearing them perform.

Highlighted Performances: Muni Long

Muni Long hit the stage with insane vocals to remind us all why we could listen to her for “Hrs and Hrs.”

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

How to Show Up For Someone Who Is Grieving This Holiday Season

How to Show Up For Someone Who Is Grieving This Holiday Season

Here are a few practical ways to let someone know you’re there for them when they’re managing grief during the holidays …
From Chicago to Decatur, These Cities Are Now One Step Closer to Reparations

From Chicago to Decatur, These Cities Are Now One Step Closer to Reparations

Outside of just Maryland, there are plenty of cities around the country dedicated to delivering reparations to the descendants of slavery …
Why Timothée Chalamet, Druski's Latest Internet Shenanigans Has Some Black Folks Inviting Him to the Cookout

Why Timothée Chalamet, Druski’s Latest Internet Shenanigans Has Some Black Folks Inviting Him to the Cookout

Timothée Chalamet went viral after this one unforgettable moment with Druski has some Black folks online inviting him to the cookout! …
'Love Island USA' Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Nicolandria's Viral Holiday Magazine Spread!

‘Love Island USA’ Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Nicolandria’s Viral Holiday Magazine Spread!

“Love Island USA” Season 7 “it-couple” Nic and Olandria just broke the internet with a fire holiday cover shoot for Glamour magazine …
With 'A Different World' Coming Back, Here Are Some Other Beloved Black Sitcom 'Sequels'

With ‘A Different World’ Coming Back, Here Are Some Other Beloved Black Sitcom ‘Sequels’

“A Different World” is far from the only beloved Black sitcom to get a “sequel” show. Here are a few others! …
How CoCo Gauff Became the World's Highest-Paid Female Athlete at Just 21 Years Old!

How CoCo Gauff Became the World’s Highest-Paid Female Athlete at Just 21 Years Old!

Forbes named Coco Gauff the world’s highest-paid female athlete of 2025, proving she knows exactly how to build an empire on and off the court! …
How Trump's 'Vengeance Quota' Unsubtly Targets Black Americans

How Trump’s ‘Vengeance Quota’ Unsubtly Targets Black Americans

Trump’s vengeance isn’t just about targeting Black leaders, but the calculated plan to bankrupt Black families while criminalizing our leaders …
Cam Newton Says He Doesn't Get Paid As Much As Tom Brady for Sports Commentary. There's a Few Reasons for That

Cam Newton Says He Doesn’t Get Paid As Much As Tom Brady for Sports Commentary. There’s a Few Reasons for That

NFL alum Cam Newton is highlighting pay disparities, but his situation might be a little different for a few reasons. Let’s talk about it! …
Black Internet is <i>Hot</i> Over What Ice Spice Wore to a Kids' Film Premiere

Black Internet is Hot Over What Ice Spice Wore to a Kids’ Film Premiere

Fans and TikTok creators slammed Ice Spice’s sheer red-carpet look, calling it inappropriate for a children’s film and labeling it a calculated PR stunt …
A Black Woman's Alleged Suicide on TikTok Live Forces Us to Confront This Uncomfortable Truth

A Black Woman’s Alleged Suicide on TikTok Live Forces Us to Confront This Uncomfortable Truth

Words have consequences— even if they are shared online. And a young Black woman might’ve taken her life because people said evil things on TikTok …
Guess What Tory Lanez Says About Megan Thee Stallion in His First Prison Interview...

Guess What Tory Lanez Says About Megan Thee Stallion in His First Prison Interview…

Tory Lanez is breaking his silence from behind bars, giving his first ever broadcast interview. Let’s get into it! …
Photo: Getty Images Stephen Morton

Why We Should Leave That Lie About Black Men Not Voting in 2025

Anyone who says Black men don’t vote is a lie and the truth ain’t in them …
All The Black Content Creators Who Won Big at The TikTok Awards!

All The Black Content Creators Who Won Big at The TikTok Awards!

Take a look at all the Black influencers who took home a trophy from the first-ever TikTok Awards …
Scientists Were Stunned After DNA Analysis Revealed the Truth About the First Black Brit

Scientists Were Stunned After DNA Analysis Revealed the Truth About the First Black Brit

For decades, scientists thought they’d found skeletal remains of the first Black Brit…until updated DNA technology proved them wrong …
How Trump's Department of Education is Letting Down Black Students -- Out Loud

How Trump’s Department of Education is Letting Down Black Students — Out Loud

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights handles dozens of discrimination cases each year, but under Trump, the office hasn’t resolved a single case …
Folks Online Are Clowning Kai Cenat For Reading 'Atomic Habits,' But Here's Why They Need to Stop

Folks Online Are Clowning Kai Cenat For Reading ‘Atomic Habits,’ But Here’s Why They Need to Stop

The internet is clowning Kai Cenat for reading “Atomic Habits,” but they shouldn’t be. Here’s why! …
Elon Musk Made $178 Billion in Two Days — Here’s What That Money Could Do for America

Elon Musk Made $178 Billion in Two Days — Here’s What That Money Could Do for America

Musk’s payday highlights just how much a single fortune could impact millions of Americans — if only it were put to good use …
This Wild Theory Says Home Alone Is Secretly A Story About The Love Of Christ

This Wild Theory Says Home Alone Is Secretly A Story About The Love Of Christ

‘Home Alone’ is an all-time favorite movie for so many people. A trending theory claims it puts the Christ in Christmas …
Blueface’s Mama Claps At His New Girlfriend For, Um, Getting His Misspelled Name Tattooed

Blueface’s Mama Claps At His New Girlfriend For, Um, Getting His Misspelled Name Tattooed

Blueface’s mom is dragging his new girlfriend for misspelling his name in a fresh tattoo, and fans are going off in the comments …
Black Internet on Fire Over Mariah the Scientist, Young Thug Engagement

Black Internet on Fire Over Mariah the Scientist, Young Thug Engagement

Singer Mariah the Scientist and rapper Young Thug have taken their relationship up another level. But not everyone is on board! …