humanitarian award presentation speech

Jun 28, 2020

Beyoncé BET 2020 Humanitarian Award Acceptance Speech Transcript

At the B.E.T. Awards on June 28, 2020, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter accepted the 2020 Humanitarian Award. She encouraged viewers to take action & vote in her acceptance speech. Read her full acceptance speech transcript here.

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Beyoncé: ( 00:01 ) Thank you so much for this beautiful honor. I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power and that is to vote. I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together, continue to fight for each other and lift each other up because there are people banking on us staying at home during local elections and primaries happening in states across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does. So please continue to be the change you want to see. Thank you everyone who took the time to speak in that beautiful presentation and thank you BET for this honor, it means so much to me, especially coming from you all. I love you deep, God bless you and good night.

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Beyoncé: “Vote like our life depends on it, because it does.”

“We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does,” said Beyoncé in her pre-recorded acceptance speech for the 2020 BET Awards. The performer and philanthropist is 2020’s recipient of the Humanitarian Award, bestowed for her work through the BeyGOOD Initiative and other campaigns.

“Thank you so much for this beautiful honor,” she said. “I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”

BET bestowed the 2020 Humanitarian Award on the prolific performer and public figure for her work through the #BeyGOOD Initiative, which was initially created to help the homeless, sick children, and the unemployed. Programs within the #BeyGOOD initiative included donation stations at her March 2020 shows, in which concertgoers could purchase #BeyGOOD stickers and upgrade their tickets to “BeyHive” or “BeyStage” seats, offering a better view and closer interaction with the superstar–with proceeds going directly to local charities in the cities on her Mrs. Carter tour.

In partnership with UNICEF USA, Beyonce also rolled out BeyGOOD4Burundi , a program that works to bring safe water to women and children in Burundi, a landlocked country in East Africa that has become one of the poorest countries in the world. Through BeyGOOD4Burundi, the project has “helped build and rehabilitate 84 water points so far, delivering safe water to over 30,000 people.”

Since the onset of COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd, #BeyGOOD has taken more proactive stances on current issues.

In one example, the initiative has since donated $6 million in funding for local community-based organizations, the UCLA, and the National Alliance in Mental Illness, which provides mental wellness services for people in Houston, New York, New Orleans, and Detroit.

“Communities of color are suffering by epic proportions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the #BeyGOOD team said in a statement. “Many families live in underserved areas with homes that make it harder to practice social distancing. Communities that were already lacking funds for education, health and housing are now faced with alarming infection rates and fatalities… Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD is supporting organizations that are on the ground 24/7…to address these dire needs in some of the hardest hit areas.”

Closer to home, Beyoncé kicked off the #IDIDMYPART initiative with her mother, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and fashion designer Tina Knowles Lawson. The initiative encouraged Houston residents–particularly those in predominantly Black and brown communities–to step up for COVID-19 testing.

The #IDIDMYPART Mobile Testing Relief Campaign provided 1,000 free test kits, face masks, gloves, essential vitamins, and household supplies to people in Houston. This mobile testing center ran for Mother’s Day weekend and launched a campaign to promote testing in Black and brown communities around the Houston area.

Plus, in a combined response to COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement, #BeyGOOD launched the Black Business Fund, administered by the National Urban League, which provides relief for Black-owned small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Also part of this program is “The Black Parade Route” (named for the superstar’s latest single, “Black Parade,” which comments on the hate and discrimination Black people have faced for generations).

The Black Parade Route, launched in honor of Juneteenth, is a merchandising effort hosted on Beyoncé’s website. It acts as a directory for Black-owned businesses. Proceeds from The Black Parade Route benefit the Black Business Impact Fund.

As of June 2020 , Beyoncé’s net worth is estimated at $400 million. Her work in the philanthropic sector offers an excellent mold for other mega-celebrities to step into: the bestowal of the 2020 BET Humanitarian Award means other superstars have some serious sequined shoes to fill.

Beyoncé’s humanitarian efforts don’t stop at fundraising and fighting COVID-19. In an excellent example of a star using her platform for good, Beyoncé encourages her nation of fans to take action.

“Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power,” Beyoncé concluded in her BET acceptance speech. “And that is to vote. I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together, continue to fight for each other and lift each other up because there are people banking on us staying at home during local elections and primaries happening in states across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does.”

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Tyler Perry called on others to 'refuse hate' at the Oscars. Read his powerful speech in full.

Tyler Perry gave a memorable speech at a unique Oscars ceremony Sunday night, making an impassioned plea for unity and calling on people to "refuse hate" and lift others up.  

The billionaire filmmaker , 51, accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his for his work feeding and helping others during the pandemic. Past fellow honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Harry Belafonte, Debbie Reynolds and Geena Davis.

Following the speech, Perry told reporters backstage he felt his late mother's presence "in the moment" and elaborated on his onstage talking points, expressing hope that more people would meet in the middle, because that's where a person is able to put themselves "in someone else's shoes and have empathy for those situations." 

More: It was thrilling to see diversity in this year's Oscar winners. The finale ruined it.

"Just where we are in the country and the world, and everybody is grabbing a corner and a color, and they are all – nobody wants to come to the middle to have a conversation," he said afterward. "Everybody is polarized, and it's in the middle where things change. So I'm hoping that that inspires people to meet us in the middle so that we can get back to some semblance of normal. As this pandemic is over, we can get to a place where we are showing love and kindness to each other again." 

Read his speech in its entirety below: 

"Thank you. Thank you, that is, that’s incredibly kind. Thank you so much. They only gave me a few minutes so I wanna say a very special thanks to Miss Viola Davis, who is nominated tonight and doing this. Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate it. To the Board of Governors, especially to Whoopi Goldberg, Ava (DuVernay).

"You know when I set out to help someone, it is my intention to do just that. I’m not trying to do anything other than meet somebody at their humanity. Like a case in point, this one time I remember I was, maybe it was about 17 years ago. I rented this building and we were using it for production and I was walking to my car one day and I see this woman coming up out of the corner of my eye and I say, she’s homeless, let me give her some money.

"Judgment. I wish I had time to talk about judgment. Anyway, I reach in my pocket and I’m about to give her the money. She says, 'Excuse me sir. Do you have any shoes?' It stopped me cold because I remember being homeless and having one pair of shoes and they were bent over at the heels. So I was like, 'yeah.' So I took her into the studio. She was hesitant to go in, but we went in. We go to wardrobe and there all these boxes and everything around the walls and fabrics and racks of clothes. So we ended up having to stand in the middle of the floor. So as we’re standing there in wardrobe, we find some shoes, we help her put them on. I stand up, I’m waiting for her to look up and all this time she’s looking down. She finally looks up. She’s got tears in her eyes. She said 'Thank you, Jesus, my feet are off the ground.' 

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"In that moment I recall her saying to me 'I thought you would hate me for asking.' I’m like, 'how can I hate you when I used to be you?' How can I hate you when I had a mother who grew up in a Jim Crow South in Louisiana, rural Louisiana right across the border from Mississippi, who at 9 or 10 years old was grieving the death of Emmett Till. And she got a little bit older. She was grieving the death of the Civil Rights boys and the little girls who were in the bombing in Alabama. She grieved all this all these years and I remember being a little boy and coming home, and she was at home like, 'what are you doing home? You supposed to be at work.' She was in tears that day. She said there was a bomb threat and she couldn't believe that someone wanted to blow up this place where she worked. Where she took care of all these toddlers. It was the Jewish Community Center.

"My mother taught me to refuse hate. She taught me to refuse blanket judgment, and in this time, and with all of the Internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us, we teach our kids and I want to remember, just refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody. I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are Black or white or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian.

"I would hope that we would refuse hate and I want to take this Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle, no matter what’s around the wall. Stand in the middle ’cause that’s where healing happens. That’s where conversation happens. That’s where change happens. It happens in the middle. So anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment, and to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you too. God bless you and thank you Academy. I appreciate it. Thank you."

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Harvard Humanitarian Award

Between 1984 and 2017, the Harvard Foundation presented the Humanitarian Award to an individual whose works and deeds have served to improve the quality of our lives and have inspired us to greater heights.  This award is given in the name of the Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor and Minister in Harvard's Memorial Church, and is authorized by the Dean of Harvard College and the President of Harvard University.

Humanitarians of the Year are depicted below, with the most recent honorees listed first.

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Rihanna Receives Harvard University’s Humanitarian Award & Delivers Inspiring Speech: Watch

The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations honored Rihanna with The 2017 Harvard Humanitarian of the Year award. In a ceremony held Tuesday (Feb. 28), Rihanna thanked the university…

By Taylor Weatherby

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As one of the world’s most famous female singers of today,  Rihanna ‘s contribution to the world has been plenty impactful in itself. But something fans may forget is how philanthropic the “Love on the Brain” singer is as well.

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Because of Rihanna’s work in her native island of Barbados and the charities she has founded over the years, the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations honored her with the 2017 Harvard Humanitarian of the Year award. In a ceremony held Tuesday (Feb. 28), Rihanna thanked the university for the honor and delivered an inspiring speech — but, of course, had to start off with a little pat on the back for her achievement.

“So I made it to Harvard,” Rihanna began as she jokingly flipped her hair. “Never thought I’d be able to say that in my life, but it feels good.”

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As she continued, Rihanna explained that she has had a passion for helping people since she was a young girl watching commercials about how a quarter could help save a child’s life. “I would think to myself, ‘I wonder how many 25 cents I could save up to save all the kids in Africa.’ And I would say to myself, ‘When I grow up and I get rich, I’m gonna save kids all over the world.’ I just didn’t know I would be in a position to do that by the time I was a teenager,” she laughed.

After touching on all of the organizations she has since started and helped with, Rihanna encouraged the students at the ceremony and everyone listening to join her in her selfless contributions.

“All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return. To me, that is a humanitarian.” She added, “What that little girl watching those commercials didn’t know is that you don’t have to be rich to be a humanitarian, you don’t have to be rich to help somebody. You don’t have to be famous, you don’t even have to be college educated. But it starts with your neighbor… you just do whatever you can to help in any way that you can.”

Watch Rihanna receive her humanitarian award and see her full speech below:

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Rice Speechwriting

Short award acceptance speech examples: inspiring examples, short award acceptance speech examples that inspire.

Winning an award is a momentous event in anyone’s life, be it for their personal or professional achievements. Whether you are receiving an award for your contributions to society or for excelling in your field of work, giving a great acceptance speech can do wonders in inspiring others. But how can you craft an acceptance speech that truly resonates with the audience and inspires them? In this blog post, we will delve into the purpose of an acceptance speech, how it can inspire others, and some tips on crafting and delivering one. We’ll also cover common pitfalls to avoid so that your speech has the desired impact on the audience. So let’s get started on creating a memorable and inspiring acceptance speech!

Understanding the Purpose of an Award Acceptance Speech

Acknowledging hard work and team contributions is essential in an award speech, highlighting the collaborative efforts behind the achievement. Expressing gratitude for personal accomplishments demonstrates humility and appreciation. Moreover, integrating company values and sustainability initiatives into the speech emphasizes their significance in organizational success. Featuring business executives within the speech process aligns with the company’s leadership values and showcases their involvement in milestone achievements. The writing process for a good speech involves careful consideration of these elements to ensure a meaningful and impactful delivery, especially when the CEO is present. Overall, a well-crafted award speech not only communicates gratitude but also promotes the company’s values and sustainability efforts, making it a pivotal part of significant events and corporate recognition.

Goals and Importance of an Acceptance Speech

Crafting an award speech is a crucial part of the writing process, especially for business executives, team members, and award winners. A good acceptance speech not only reflects the individual’s own success but also acknowledges sustainability and good practices. When delivering an award speech, it’s essential to inspire others with the power of storytelling and the impact of specific, well-crafted words. CEO and business leaders should use this as an opportunity to set an example with their own speech. By showcasing gratitude and emphasizing company values, an acceptance speech can have a lasting influence and make the event memorable in September.

How an Acceptance Speech Inspires Others

An impactful award speech not only acknowledges the efforts of team members but also serves as a catalyst for inspiring hard work and sustainability within the company. By reflecting on great speech examples, business executives can be inspired to express gratitude and recognize the importance of company sustainability initiatives. Furthermore, a well-crafted acceptance speech has the power to inspire and encourage executives to take proactive measures towards sustaining the company’s values. When acknowledging sustainability in their speeches, award winners can effectively inspire business executives to prioritize and implement sustainable practices for the betterment of the organization and its stakeholders.

Crafting Your Acceptance Speech

Crafting an award speech requires a thoughtful writing process. Whether it’s for business executives or company sustainability, crafting your own speech is crucial. A good acceptance speech acknowledges the efforts of team members and reflects gratitude. Writing an award acceptance speech that inspires others is essential, especially for CEOs and business executives. It’s an opportunity to inspire hard work and sustainability while acknowledging the achievements of the company. The writing process should ensure that the speech examples reflect the importance of the award and the impact it has on the company’s initiatives. Acknowledging company sustainability and reflecting on good acceptance speech examples can inspire great ways forward.

Being Specific in Your Speech

Crafting an award acceptance speech for business executives requires reflecting on specific examples to make the speech more impactful. For instance, acknowledging the team members’ hard work in a sustainability initiative demonstrates appreciation and inspires others. Being specific about the company’s sustainability efforts and the role of each individual can create a good speech that inspires gratitude and motivates further contributions. Incorporating specific examples, such as successful initiatives or the impact of sustainability efforts on the company’s bottom line, can enhance the CEO’s own speech at the award ceremony in September. By focusing on specific achievements and outcomes, the speechwriting process becomes more effective in delivering a memorable and inspiring award speech.

The Power of Storytelling in Your Acceptance Speech

Crafting an award acceptance speech for business executives involves incorporating storytelling to inspire sustainability. By including storytelling in an award ceremony acceptance speech for company sustainability, you can effectively showcase the impact of sustainability initiatives. A well-crafted acceptance speech for business executives can resonate with the audience, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and inspiring hard work. Utilizing storytelling in an award acceptance speech for company dollars can make the speech more impactful and memorable, reflecting the CEO’s commitment to sustainability. September’s award speech writing process should include personal anecdotes that highlight the journey towards sustainability. Crafting your own speech in a good way can enhance its impact, setting a positive example for others.

Preparing to Deliver Your Speech

Rehearsing an award acceptance speech for business executives is essential for making it impactful. The practice of delivering an award ceremony acceptance speech for company sustainability and company dollars is crucial for leaving a lasting impression. It’s important to make your own speech memorable through rehearsal , ensuring it resonates with the audience. Additionally, rehearsing an award acceptance speech for business executives for sustainability in business is key to its success. By going through the writing process and practicing delivery, CEOs can effectively convey their message and inspire others. Taking the time to rehearse ensures that the speech is well-crafted and impactful, leaving a positive and lasting impression on the audience.

Making Your Speech Memorable

Crafting an impactful award speech for business executives involves utilizing good speech examples and incorporating storytelling that resonates with their values. By owning your speech and infusing it with authenticity, you can inspire others and leave a lasting impression on the audience. Whether delivering the speech for company dollars or sustainability initiatives, the writing process should focus on making it memorable and relevant to the CEO and business executives. Rehearsing and refining the speech is crucial for September’s upcoming award ceremony, ensuring that the delivery is powerful and leaves a lasting impact. Incorporating NLP terms seamlessly enhances the process, making the speech memorable for all the right reasons.

Tips for Rehearsing Your Speech

When rehearsing for an award acceptance speech, particularly for business executives in the sustainability sector, it’s essential to practice delivering a speech that highlights the impact and sustainability initiatives of the company. Ensure that the speech incorporates good examples and focuses on the positive aspects of business sustainability. Rehearsing an award ceremony acceptance speech for company sustainability can significantly contribute to its impact and memorability. Moreover, practicing an acceptance speech for business executives should emphasize the good things achieved in business sustainability, making it both impactful and inspiring. Utilize the writing process to craft your own speech, incorporating specific details that resonate with the audience, especially the CEO and other industry leaders. By doing so, you can effectively inspire others and leave a lasting impression.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in an Acceptance Speech

Crafting an award acceptance speech for business executives involves avoiding common pitfalls for sustainability. It’s crucial to ensure that the speech does not go overboard with emotions, as this can affect its impact. Avoiding common pitfalls in an award ceremony acceptance speech for company sustainability is essential for making a lasting impression. Business executives should craft their own speech while following good acceptance speech examples to guarantee its effectiveness. Addressing the writing process and the CEO’s role in delivering the speech can contribute to its success. Ensuring that the speech is specific and incorporates the power of storytelling will aid in avoiding common pitfalls and creating a memorable impact for sustainability. The writing process should include elements that inspire others and contribute to the overall goals of the acceptance speech.

Can Going Overboard with Emotions Affect the Impact of Your Speech?

Balancing emotions in a speech is crucial for connecting with the audience. Overwhelming emotions may divert attention from the message. A well-balanced emotional tone enhances the resonance and credibility of a speech, influencing audience engagement.

Examples of Short Award Speeches

Frequently asked questions, what are some key elements to include in a short award acceptance speech.

When crafting a short award acceptance speech, it’s important to express gratitude to the organization or individuals giving the award. Additionally, acknowledge the support and hard work of those who helped you achieve success. Use personal anecdotes or inspiring quotes to add authenticity and depth to your speech.

How can I make my acceptance speech memorable and inspiring?

To make your acceptance speech memorable and inspiring, start by expressing gratitude and acknowledging the awarding organization. Share a personal story or experience that led to receiving the award. Recognize and thank those who supported you throughout your journey. Finally, end with an inspiring message or call to action related to the award’s significance.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid when giving an acceptance speech?

To make your acceptance speech impactful, avoid rambling or going off-topic. Remember to express gratitude towards those who helped you achieve the award. Avoid being overly self-deprecating or dismissive of your accomplishments. Keep it concise and engaging, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Can I personalize my acceptance speech for different types of awards or audiences?

Certainly! You have the freedom to personalize your acceptance speech for various awards and audiences. Tailor your speech to match the tone and style of the event or organization presenting the award. Acknowledge specific achievements or contributions that led to receiving the award, and express gratitude towards mentors, colleagues, and loved ones who supported you throughout your journey.

In conclusion, an award acceptance speech holds tremendous power to inspire and motivate others. By being specific in your speech and incorporating storytelling, you can connect with your audience on a deeper level and leave a lasting impact. However, it is important to strike a balance and avoid going overboard with emotions, as it can potentially dilute the impact of your message. Prepare and rehearse your speech to ensure it is memorable and effectively conveys your gratitude and appreciation. Remember, your acceptance speech is an opportunity to not only express your gratitude but also inspire others to pursue their own passions and dreams.

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Award Presentation Speech

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Presentation Speech Topics For Award Ceremonies

Presentation speech template including eleven speech topics for presenting an award, prize or gift to a happy recipient leading to a brief photo opportunity in the end. Bear in mind that you have to be short and sweet epitomizing. Each of the public speaking speech topics take two or three sentences maximally. The layout in this tutorial helps an enchanted public speaker to set up a good and aesthetically ceremonial award presentation.

• The first remark you have to make is a commenting to the occasion. Refer why you are here together, refresh their memories a bit by stipulating why this is such a special day. Enforce the power of the delightful purpose of this meeting, and the happy recipient.
• Explain in your presentation speech what the award represents. Be brief, since the audience has read the invitation and publicity material. Describe these underlying elemental public speaking power factors:
• Describe the organization you are representing. Tell why you are privileged to present. Make your speech personal, offer personal thoughts, experiences and feelings.
• Praise the recipient. Present outstanding contributions, achievements or records that are relevant. Adapt them to the goals and meaning of the ceremonial special occasion .

Explain why the contributions are outstanding or unique. What offers did it take the winner? Refer to special qualifications and to similarities with other recipients.

Again: keep it short – 3 minutes for your award speech will do most of the time. Although it even can be somewhat shorter.

• Mention the reasons for choosing her or him as recipient. Link the contributions to the meaning of the honor.
• Make a concluding characterization by telling a compelling story or anecdote in the presentation speech text.
• Ask if the receiver will come forward and declare her or him the winner.
• Link the previous speech topics to what the prize gift stands for. Tip: read the inscription out loud and show the golden medal, the engraved plaque, the recognition trophy cup, or the certificate words.
• At the end of your address congratulate her or him.
• Hand over the award, prize, diploma, certificate or gift card.
• Shake hands with the person or group being honored. Schedule a brief photo opportunity and smile to the camera! After the ceremony you could allow a small interview to invited journalists.

Finally, of course give the winner the opportunity to speak after your award presentation speech address. And start clapping your hands to express your honest approval after she or he has completed the thank you phrases.

Keep smiling all the time.

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Here's Every Word of Rihanna's Humanitarian of the Year Speech at Harvard

Rihanna was given Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year award this afternoon, and she showed up in Cambridge dressed to make a statement, in an off-the-shoulder dress and thigh-high boots:

But it wasn't just her outfit—her speech delivered, too. It started with this hair flip, when RiRi told the crowd "so I made it to Harvard" in the most Elle Woods fashion:

She then made it clear we all can—and should be—humanitarians. "All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return," she said. "To me, that is a humanitarian. People make it seem way too hard, man."

"The truth is, and what I want the little girl watching those [aid] commercials to know, is you don't have to be rich to be a humanitarian. You don't have to be rich to help somebody. You don't gotta be famous. You don't even have to be college-educated. I mean, I wish I was, I'm not saying you know…"

Below, read every word. You can watch her recite the speech at the 1:16:00 mark, too:

So I made it to Harvard. Never thought I'd be able to say that in my life, but it feels good. Thank you, Dr. Counter, thank you to the Harvard Foundation, and thank you, Harvard University for this great honor. Thank you. I'm incredibly humbled by this, to be acknowledged at this magnitude for something that in truth I've never wanted credit for.

When I was five or six years old, I remember watching TV and I would see these commercials and I was watching other children suffer in other parts of the world and you know the commercials were [like], 'you can give 25 cents, save a child's life,' you know? And I would think to myself like, I wonder how many 25 cents I could save up to save all the kids in Africa. And I would say to myself you know, 'when I grow up, when I can get rich, I'mma save kids all over the world.' I just didn't know I would be in the position to do that by the time I was a teenager. [Laughs]

At 17 I started my career here in America, and by the age of 18, I started my first charity organization. I went on to team up with other organizations in the following years and met, helped, and even lost some of the most beautiful souls, from six-year-old Jasmina Anema who passed away in 2010 from leukemia, her story inspired thousands to volunteer as donors through DKMS. Fast forward to 2012 and then my grandmother, the late Clara Brathwaite, she lost her battle with cancer, which is the very reason and the driving force behind the Clara Lionel Foundation. We're all human. And we all just want a chance: a chance at life, a chance in education, a chance at a future, really. And at CLF, our mission is to impact as many lives as possible, but it starts with just one. Just one.

As I stare out into this beautiful room, I see optimism, I see hope, I see the future. I know that each and every one of you has the opportunity to help someone else. All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return. To me, that is a humanitarian.

People make it seem way too hard, man. The truth is, and what I want the little girl watching those commercials to know, is you don't have to be rich to be a humanitarian. You don't have to be rich to help somebody. You don't gotta be famous. You don't even have to be college-educated. I mean, I wish I was, I'm not saying you know… [Crowd laughs] Especially today. [laughs] It's true, I might come back but all right. [Crowd cheers]

But it starts with your neighbor, the person right next to you, the person sitting next to you in class, the kid down the block in your neighborhood, you just do whatever you can to help in any way that you can. And today I want to challenge each of you to make a commitment to help one person: one organization, one situation that touches your heart. My grandmother always used to say if you've got a dollar, there's plenty to share. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. It was my honor.

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Feb 13 PRESENTING AND ACCEPTING AWARDS

            Presenting an award requires the same discipline as introducing a speaker: you have to remember that you are not the main feature on the program; you have to keep your remarks to a minimum (no jokes; no editorializing); you must stick to your script or notes-- and you should always use a script or notes.

            Following is a foolproof set of rules for presenting an award.

• If you haven’t already been introduced, tell the audience who you are and why you are there
• Give a brief history of the award
• Outline the criteria that have to be met in order to receive the award
• Briefly outline how the recipient met the criteria, being careful to avoid exaggeration
• Even if the audience already knows who the winner is, don’t mention the recipient’s name until the very end, and pause for a beat or two before announcing it with lots of excitement in your voice
• Enthusiastically start the applause
• If the recipient doesn’t know what to do after his or her name is announced, issue a clear invitation to join you at the lectern.

            All of the above should be carried off in a sincere, businesslike manner with no smart aleck remarks.

            Here is an example of a perfectly appropriate award presentation speech.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Wendy Russell and it’s my honour, as Chair of the Selection Committee, to present this year’s Harry Carmichael Memorial Award. The Harry Carmichael Memorial Award was inaugurated in 1985 in memory of the late Harry Carmichael, who was an outstanding athlete and citizen of our city. The recipient of the Harry Carmichael Award must have demonstrated, over a significant period of time, dedication to the promotion of athletics in our city, combined with a strong sense of civic and family duty. It’s been said of this year’s winner that he has for some time, and continues to, put his whole heart and soul into his community, his sports and his family. He’s a past president of the Kiwanis Club. He’s a member of City Council. In his younger days he played baseball and football at the High School, College, and State levels. He’s coached kids’ football and baseball for the past twenty years. He and his wife have raised four outstanding children. Ladies and gentlemen please acknowledge this year’s Harry Carmichael Memorial Award winner…………Mr. Hank Dalton!”

            If Hank remains frozen in his chair, you should say something like, “O.K. Hank, come on up here and receive this honor that you so richly deserve!”

            When Hank arrives at the lectern, congratulate him, give him his award, and ask him if he’d like to say a few words.

            When you’re finished, go and sit down.

            If you’ve ever watched an award show you are aware that acceptance speeches represent another wonderful opportunity to make a bad impression on an audience. This needn’t be the case at all. A little thought beforehand, some preparation, and some rehearsal will ensure success.

            The thought beforehand should consist of two things: deciding who you will include in your list of people to thank, and what you intend to do with the award. Be absolutely ruthless when deciding who to thank, including only those who played a truly important role in your achievement. If you include people who were only marginally involved you diminish the importance of the role played by those with whom you could not have done without.

             Just as with any other speech, you need to write out and rehearse your acceptance speech in order to get it into the appropriate form and length. With the exception of a list of the names of the people you’re going to thank, you probably don’t need to have any notes at the lectern; but if you’ll be more comfortable having a script or notes, by all means do so. You should write out the names of those you’re going to thank, even if there are only two.

            Rehearse your acceptance speech out loud at least two or three times, and continue to go over it in your mind whenever you get a chance, such as in the shower, waiting for an elevator, or stuck in traffic.

            Any time you’re attending an event where there is even the remotest chance that you might receive an honor, have something prepared, at least in your mind.

            Here is a can’t-fail formula for an effective acceptance speech.

• Thank the sponsoring organization for whatever it is you’re receiving (certificate, gift, trophy, plaque or whatever) and acknowledge how you feel about it
• Briefly thank anyone who played an important role in your reaching the particular achievement
• Tell the audience what you intend to do with the award or gift, such as, “This will occupy a place of honour on the fireplace in my den”
• Close with another simple, general “thank you”

            Here is an example of an appropriate speech of acceptance:

“I sincerely thank the Financial Times for nominating me, and The Press Club for honoring me with this National Business Writing Award. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, it is a very proud recipient who is standing here before you. I especially want to thank my writing mentor, Dave Scott, whose gentle wisdom and great wit have been instrumental in encouraging me and improving my writing. I also thank my partners who, without complaint, have allowed me the time to indulge in what, for an international accounting firm, is truly a sideline. This certificate will always have a place of honor on my wall. Thank you again.”

 (This column is based on my book The Elements of Great Public Speaking. )

Feb 27 IMPROMPTU SPEAKING

Feb 6 more than talent required.

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The Best Dressed Stars at the 2024 CMT Awards

See how every stylish star made an entrance at the CMT Awards, from Kelsea Ballerini to Trisha Yearwood

Nicola Gell/FilmMagic

The 2024 CMT Awards are here!

Austin, Texas was ready to rock as the star-studded event kicked off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 7.

The biggest names in  country music descended on the Moody Center for the ceremony, among them: Kelsea Ballerini , who's hosting solo for the first time after co-hosting three times prior,  Keith Urban , who's performing and the legendary  Trisha Yearwood , who's receiving a new award inspired by the late  June Carter Cash .

Catch the 23rd iteration of the ceremony on CBS and on Paramount+. And scroll through to see the best-dressed stars at the event.

Kelsea Ballerini

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

All eyes were on Kelsea Ballerini in a dreamy red lace David Koma dress, coordinating Jimmy Choo shoes and EFFY Jewelry. The star, who's hosting the show solo for the first time after hosting three times with Kane Brown , is up for several awards.

Trisha Yearwood

Rick Kern/Getty

Trisha Yearwood made a dazzling entrance in a sequin gown with major feather cuffs and strappy sandals. The music icon, who is set to perform, will also receive the first-ever June Carter Cash Humanitarian Award at the event.

Mickey Guyton

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty

Nominee Mickey Guyton was dressed to impress on the red carpet in a semi-sheer, embellished Retrofête halter gown and equally blinged-out clutch.

Jane Seymour

Kevin Mazur/Getty

British actress Jane Seymour stepped out to present at the event in a black sequin dress with a lace-trimmed neckline and tiered skirt, teamed with tri-color cowboy boots for the right hit of country flair.

Lainey Wilson

Nominee and performer Lainey Wilson  rocked her signature bell bottoms — these by Area are decked out with silver polka dots — and a matching asymmetrical Superdown top, teamed with a vintage necklace from Double D, Minnie Lane jewelry and Charlie 1 Horse hat.

Rapper GloRilla hit the red carpet in a draped bustier gown with a thigh-high split that revealed her lace-up sandals. Her accessory of choice? Grills.

Emma Roberts

Chris Saucedo/WireImage

Presenter Emma Roberts topped off her blush, one-shoulder Dolce & Gabbana gown with a draped bustier with a rose colored lip.

Amber Riley

Jeff Kravitz/Getty

Amber Riley struck a pose in a sequin and fringe-covered dress and sparkly sandals, before presenting .

Carly Pearce

Nominee and presenter Carly Pearce put her best foot forward in a sheer top that revealed her metallic bra, and towering embellished platforms (all Dolce & Gabbana) styled with Celeste Starre earrings and Nadri rings.

Presenter Gayle King lit up the carpet in a neon green sequin Badgley Mischka suit, plus a matching top and pointy heels. A equally blingy rainbow clutch completed her colorful look.

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Geena davis set to receive viola davis trailblazer award at cinemacon.

The trophy will be the second to carry the name after Viola Davis was presented with the honor ahead of the release of 'The Woman King' in 2022.

By Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner

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CinemaCon kicks off today in Las Vegas, and as the official convention of the National Association of Theater Owners gets underway, organizers have added another honoree to the roster: Geena Davis .

The Oscar winner will be feted with the Viola Davis Trailblazer Award during the Big Screen Achievement Awards inside the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 11.

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Geena Davis will have other duties in Las Vegas. Her Bentonville Film Festival has partnered with the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program in a shared mission of supporting next generation creative talent. Along with the fest, she will participate in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Red Ribbon Panel to select a grand prize-winning film, which will be showcased at CinemaCon. ​

Davis broke out with her first Oscar nomination for a supporting turn in  The Accidental Tourist. She then earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for starring opposite Susan Sarandon in  Thelma & Louise . Her other credits include  A League of Their Own, Tootsie, The Fly, Beetlejuice, Angie, The Long Kiss Goodnight,  Stuart Little and many others. Davis was recently feted with an Oscar by receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.  She serves as founder and chair of nonprofit the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.

The Big Screen Achievement Awards, hosted by official presenting sponsor the Coca-Cola Company, will also see honors doled out to Amy Poehler (vanguard award), Lupita Nyong’o (star of the year), Shawn Levy (director of the year), Joseph Quinn (breakthrough performer of the year award), Dan Stevens (excellence in acting award) and Ariana Greenblatt (rising star of the year).

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CMT Music Awards Preview: Producers Give Lowdown on What to Expect From Jelly Roll, Toby Keith Tribute, Kelsea Ballerini, Dasha and More

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

• Little Big Town and Sugarland Collaboration on CMT Awards Wasn’t a One-Off: LBT Members Talk Covering Phil Collins for Joint Single, Plus Fall Tour 4 hours ago
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Tonight’s CMT Music Awards show will endeavor to emphasize what’s currently flameworthy, to borrow a word that has long since been retired from the telecast’s original name. Prime performance slots have been given to country music figures who are still on the ascent, from still-fairly-freshly-minted superstars Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson to up-and-comers who really seem fresh out of the oven, like Megan Moroney and TikTok sensation Dasha (pictured above, in rehearsals).

And 2000s country is neither too old nor too new to also get its due, in a not overly nostalgic way. Little Big Town, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Sugarland, which broke out two decades ago, will be performing together on the show for the first time since 2008, back when the broadcast was still called the CMT Flameworthy Video Awards, albeit premiering a brand new joint single. “Putting all those voices together, you can just imagine what’s gonna happen,” said Fram. She was speaking shortly before a rehearsal of the two groups’ collaboration that was a veritable act of traffic-cop direction, with camera blocking having to allow for six lead singers.

Hamlin, Comeaux and Fram sat down at the producers’ desk during a pause in rehearsals Saturday at Austin’s Moody Center to offer Variety a preview of how a few key jigsaw pieces came together, and what they expect the show highlights to be. The fourth executive producer, Jason Owen, had other duties to attend to during the time-out, as he also has two key managerial clients on the show, Little Big Town and host/performer Kelsea Ballerini.

The show’s bookends: “Cody Johnson’s gonna open the show with a song called ‘That’s Texas,'” Hamlin reveals, “and Jelly Roll’s gonna close the show with ‘Halfway to Hell,’ so we’re starting it in Texas and we’re closing it with Jelly Roll…” He politely refrains from adding … in hell , but perhaps it goes without saying that there’ll be plenty of pyro during Jelly Roll’s barnburner, which will have the rapper-turned-country-star finally getting a live TV berth for a rouser that has been a key part of his live sets off his smash “Whitsitt Chapel” album.

Jelly Roll’s performance in 2023 of “Need a Favor” on the CMTs coincided with the show getting millions more eyeballs as a result of the show airing on CBS for the first time instead of “just” CMT and its Viacom cabler sisters. It’s widely credited with giving him the turbo boost that accelerated him toward being what can reasonably be considered a superstar of the genre.

“Last year, it was his coming-out party,” says Hamlin. “Aand when he walked out on the stage for rehearsal yesterday, he looked at all of us producers sitting here at the table and said, ‘Hey, guys. It’s our one-year anniversary!'” Adds Fram, “He talks about it all the time, how … he has had just an enormous year, but it all started here last year.”

“He’s just a joy to be around,” notes Hamlin. “He has time for everybody who says something to him. He hangs out with the crew. He invited our stage manager to go out with him in Austin last night, because he knew him from being on ‘American Idol.'” (Coincidentally, Jelly Roll’s recently filmed mentorship stint on “Idol” airs the night after the CMT Awards.) With his devil-or-angel-may care attitude, “he just makes everybody around him happy.”

That lightning probably can’t strike twice in a row, given the limited number of Jelly Rolls in the world. But if there’s a candidate for it, it might be Dasha, who has racked up billions of TikTok views for her “Austin” single in a matter of a few months, mostly concentrated in the last few weeks. This will mark her first prime-time performance, after recently making a network debut with a Jimmy Kimmel turn.

Says Hamlin, “We try to save one spot — and it’s hard because we have so many people that want to be on the show. But we try to wait until a month out to book the last performance, because we don’t want to miss something that’s blowing up right when our show’s happening. And that is exactly the case with this young woman. I mean, 6 billion views around the world, and like, it’s five and a half billion of those views have happened in the last 30 days. We like being right on the curve, and she fits the bill this year.”

“I think this is gonna be a coming out party for Megan Moroney as well,” notes Hamlin. Comeaux notes that the “Tennessee Orange” hitmaker won her first award on the CMTs last year. This time she’ll recreate her featured appearance on a current Old Dominion single as well as go solo with her recently released non-album single “No Caller ID,” a ballad in the classic country tradition.

While Moroney will be doing her own song live, she already shot “Can’t Break Up Now” with Old Dominion as part of a series of performances that were pre-taped during the last week outdoors in front of the UT Texas tower, with students making up most of the crowds there.

“We had already booked her to do her own song,” Hamlin says, “and Old Dominion asked if we would mind if we would let her do a second appearance with them, and we were happy to because the song’s a great song. Old Dominion’s manager offered up a plan. She was part of a multi-artist benefit show at the Ryman in Nashville Wednesday night. She moved her performance up to be right at the top of the show at 7:30, walked out of the Ryman Auditorium at about 7:52, got in a waiting car to Nashville International, got on a private plane, flew here, landed at 10:20 — and she was due on stage at 10:50. And literally the car pulled up to the stage and she walked on and we recorded her song with Old Dominion. We were a little nervous about that, because if there was bad weather and she got delayed, we were gonna be stuck.”

That won’t be the only featured duet, although Hamlin says the show, unlike some other awards perennials, doesn’t put a particular spotlight on pairing artists just for the sake of it.

Parker McCollum’s current single, “Burn It Down,” doesn’t have a feature on it, but Brittney Spencer — who recently released her Big Machine country album debut, and who is getting some attention for an appearance on the Beyonce album — will help give the track a different spin. That one was also recorded already at the UT Texas stage. “That, I predict, will be one of the top three performances in the show,” says Hamlin. “I went to work it out with them. Parker was doing his tour rehearsals at a small arena north of Nashville, and Brittney came out and we worked through it and figured out a way to make it work perfectly for the two of them as a real duet, not just her singing harmony. And it’s a smoldering version of that song.” Adds Comeaux, “She just adds magic to whatever she does. Her voice is out of this world.”

With the Toby Keith three-part tribute, “Toby’s had a very important relationship with this brand and this channel for 20 years now,” Hamlin points out. “He never mailed it in on music videos; they were always clever, funny, memorable on almost every occasion. The CMT Music Awards is honoring music videos to this day, and he’s an icon to this brand, so he will be greatly missed for sure. And yes, we wanted to try to do it right. I, for one, don’t love medleys in shows. And so we really kind of went out of our way to make sure that we picked his three biggest songs and found the right people to do them. We have a classic ‘90s superstar act, Brooks and Dunn, doing [“Shoud’ve Been a Cowboy”]. We have one of his best friends, Sammy Hagar, a classic rocker — they were very, very close—  doing his second biggest song [“I Love This Bar”]. And then we’ve got a woman of the moment, one of our biggest current stars, Lainey Wilson, doing ‘How Do You Like Me Now?’ And when we made that suggestion to her, she was like, ‘Absolutely. That’s perfect.’” (Befitting her current queenly status in the genre, Wilson will also get a separate spot on the show, doing her own new single, “Country’s Cool Again.”)

The Keith-related programming will carry over to a special on the titular network, CMT, with some additional material being filmed behind the scenes at the CMTs. Says Comeaux, “As John talked about the importance of Toby to the channel over the years, we wanted to find a way to further honor him. So we went back to the archives of the CMT Music Awards — him doing 11 performances and hosting it twice and multiple times he won. We are going to highlight those moments iand do an hour-long special on the channel that’ll follow the re-air of this on CMT on Thursday. As much as it’s gonna be fantastic to hear people sing his songs to honor his memory, this will be a nice way for us to go back and actually hear Toby singing those songs.”

The CMT Awards will also preview another piece of upcoming CMT programming, as Jordan Davis and the pop group Needtobreathe will be collaborating on the show, on the heels of filming a “CMT Crossroads” episode in Austin Friday night. While the two acts didn’t do any medleys during that joint taping, they fashioned one for the CMT Awards, combining Needtobreathe’s “Brother”with Davis’ “Next Thing You Know.”

Sam Hunt will do a Johnny Cash-style prison-themed presentation for recently released single “Locked Up,” a song that only goes to prison metaphorically on record. And Jason Aldean was among those pre-taping UT Tower performances earlier in the week, with “Let Your Boys Be Country.”

This year marks the second year in Austin, and third year on CBS — a bumping-up that occurred when the network didn’t come to term with its previous country awards show, the ACM Awards, on a renewal, and Viacom opted to give a far more prominent platform to what it already had in-house, corporately. (The show also is seen live on Paramount+ With Showtime or on-demand for followup viewing on Paramount+.)

“When CBS decided to air this, the message that we got the entire time is that they did not want us to change what we do,” Hamlin says. “And we get comments all the time that our show does not feel like the two or three other country music shows that are on the broadcasting landscape throughout the year.” (If there’s an approximation in his count, that’s to do with the fact that the half-century-old CMA and ACM awards programs, and this one, have been joined in the field by the People’s Choice Country Awards, the latest of several attempts in the last couple decades to put a fourth country kudocast on the calendar.)

“This thing about the fans being standing-room-only/GA on the floor, there’s no other show that does that,” he continues. “Every other award show has row after row after row after row of people in suits right up against the stage in a very staid and more formal atmosphere. We’re anything but that. We want it to feel like a rock festival on the floor.” The starpower is concentrated in a loge ring hovering just above the floor.

Kelsea Ballerini has said that this fourth year as host — and first time hosting solo — will mark her last turn fronting the CMTs. “When you talk about artists being comfortable on camera, I’ve never seen an artist as comfortable and have so much confidence in front of a camera as Kelsea,” says Fram. “She puts her own personality into it and makes recommendations on the scripts, and we give her that latitude of what she wants to do.” Fram has big expectations for how Ballerini’s musical number will go over as well — a much differently flavored remake of her seminal hit “Love Me Like You Mean It,” shot earlier this week at the UT Tower.

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