Summer Walker Presents Erykah Badu With the Icon Award | Billboard Women In Music 2025

Summer Walker presents Erykah Badu with the Icon Award at Billboard Women In Music 2025.

Summer Walker:

Hello, Billboard Women in Music! A few things have changed since I was last here in 2022, including having my twin boys. Thank you. And I’m not just bringing that up because I love being a mom—shout out to all the moms in the room. Hey! But also because tonight’s Icon Award honoree was my doula. That’s right—the spiritual, soulful, beautiful, and talented Erykah Badu helped bring my babies into this world. She’s been a mentor and a safe space for me, and honestly, this is truly a full-circle moment, considering she’s been my favorite artist since I was 12 years old.

So thank you for allowing me to present this. Ever since she burst onto the scene in 1997 with Baduizm, Erykah’s magic has captivated listeners. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, held the No. 1 spot for four weeks on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and won two Grammys, including best R&B album. Since then, she has released five studio albums, countless singles and EPs, and has toured the world. Along the way, she helped launch a unique music movement that exists somewhere between R&B, hip-hop, and soul. Some call it neo-soul; others call it neo-funk. I call it the combination of a voice and an incredible fearlessness in artistry that has influenced an entire generation of performers.

Her hit collaborations include work with The Roots, D’Angelo, Macy Gray, and Janelle Monáe. Now, let’s take a moment to honor this year’s Billboard Women in Music Icon, Erykah Badu!