Below, relive some of the performances of the night. Gospel star Yolanda Adams opened the show with a fascinating performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, a historic rally shouting also considered the National Anthem of the Blacks. This was followed by a glamorous Chaka Khan, with the support of the Roots, with the hits of “Ain’t Nobody” and “I’m Every Woman”, dedicating the last song to the “strong women” of the audience. Bell Biv Devoe took the stage and made almost all the members of the audience dance. Behind the scenes, presenters Leslie Jones and Amanda Seales followed the success of the group, “Poison”. Ne-Yo followed the ’90s trio with a high-energy performance of “Give Me Everything” and had the audience sing with him. And yes, it was Beyoncé who did a vocal cameo in a pre-recorded section on Opal Lee, the 95-year-old activist who worked to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. (More on Lee below.)

Strong messages

Country phenomenon Mickey Gayton covered Marvin Gay’s protest anthem “What’s Going On” and sang her original Grammy nominee single, “Black Like Me”. The poet Amir Suleiman performed a moving piece with a message to the audience: “You will become someone’s ancestor. Act accordingly”. The entire creative team behind the show is Black, CNN’s Sara Sidner said before the show, including Live Nation Urban creator Shawn Gee and Jesse Collins Entertainment. The night also marked the first time an all-black orchestra, the Re-Collective Orchestra, played in the Bowl, Sidner said. The Re-Collective Orchestra was accompanied by members of the Debbie Allen Dance Company, who performed a live dance track (and performed by Allen herself). June became a federal holiday in 2021, but many Black Americans celebrate the date for years with parades, parties, and family gatherings. The holidays are also an opportunity to reflect on the continuing systemic inequalities facing black Americans. President Joe Biden referred to this duality in a recorded message, urging Americans to celebrate the date and remember the horrors of slavery. “It’s time to celebrate, time for education and time for action,” Biden said. Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in a recorded message, as did former First Lady Michelle Obama, who called on viewers to vote.
Jill Scott delivered an oral track entitled “Agitation: Definition # 3” in an empty scene, talking about the pain of monitoring systemic changes that fail to pass. She finished her show by raising her hands without words.

“Juneteenth grandmother” was honored at the event

In a special pre-show, Lee told CNN’s Don Lemon that he “stung [herself]earlier this year, Lee, considered the “grandmother of Juneeteenth”, walked 2.5 miles to symbolize the two-and-a-half years that Galveston’s African-American slaves of Texas, lived in captivity after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Declaration of Emancipation in 1863. Lee said Americans should spend the holidays celebrating, learning and continuing to support change. “I support the fact that we are celebrating from June 19 to July 4,” he said. “That would be celebrating freedom.”

Gospel Finale

Gospel stars Mary Mary, Anthony Hamilton and Michelle Williams, who first became famous by singing with Destiny’s Child, took the audience to church at the end of the night with inspiring individual performances. The four artists then closed the show with a loud note, singing “Optimistic”. CNN’s Harmeet Kaur and Chloe Melas contributed to this report.