Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy/Atlantic recording artist Janelle Monáe blew the roof off this evening’s 2016 BET Awards with a truly spellbinding tribute to the one and only Prince.

Monáe – who maintained a close personal and professional friendship with Prince – unleashed an instantly memorable medley of legendary hits including “Delirious,” “Kiss,” “Pop Life,” and “I Would Die 4 U,” each song performed wearing all-white recreations of some of Prince’s most iconic outfits (including of course the notorious  “assless chaps” famously worn at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards). Designed by Janelle’s longtime stylist,  Maeve Reilly, and designer Sergio Hudson,  the performance referenced looks from his legendary Purple Rain era, the famous “Kiss” music video, and the sequined purple cape from his 1985 Oscars’ appearance. Further highlighted by choreography famously featured in Purple Rain, the high-energy performance of “I Would Die 4 U” received a thunderous standing ovation from the star-studded audience, celebrating both Prince and his extraordinary protégé’s triumphant tribute.

Monáe’s unforgettable homage was part of the 2016 BET Awards’ remarkable remembrance of Prince, also featuring performances by such superstars as Jennifer Hudson, Maxwell, Stevie Wonder, and The Roots. The 2016 BET Awards were broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater; encore presentations are scheduled for this week.

Janelle Monáe (Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy Records/Atlantic) – Janelle Monáe is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, performer, producer and CoverGirl spokesperson known for her unique style and groundbreaking sound. Immersed in the performing arts at a young age, she founded her record label the Wondaland Arts Society releasing the EP "Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)." In 2010, Monáe released the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed “ArchAndroid,” which reached No. 17 on the Billboard Charts and earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for the hit single “Tightrope.” Monáe performed at that year’s awards alongside Bruno Mars and B.O.B. 2013 saw the release of the critically acclaimed album “The Electric Lady” featuring Prince and Miguel, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. The album's first single “Q.U.E.E.N.” garnered rave reviews and the accompanying video received over 4 million YouTube views in its first week and a coveted MTV VMA Moonman. In February of 2015, Janelle launched her very own label, Wondaland Records. Most recently, Monáe was featured in the Super Bowl 50 Pepsi commercial titled, the “Joy of Dance,” wherein she pays homage to some of the greatest musical acts of past and present. In 2017, Janelle takes her talent to the silver screen, in which she will star as a lead actor in the upcoming drama Hidden Figures. The story centers around the true story of three African-American women who work for NASA and help make John Glenn the first person to orbit the Earth in 1962. The film also stars Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Kevin Costner. In addition to filming, Janelle is currently in the studio recording her highly anticipated third solo album.

Image by Derrel R. Todd | FootPrint Fotos | Wondaland Arts