“I give praise and thanks to God from Whom all blessings flow for the opportunity to be of service to my community for these 40 years,” explains Hughes. “I always say that Radio One is my second baby next to my son and business partner, Alfred Liggins. I am immensely grateful for the men and women who have worked to help make Radio One a success. It started as a single radio station and is now a media family with two cable television networks and various digital media platforms. I look forward to celebrating this milestone and recognizing others who are doing phenomenal work in their industries.”
Love NewsOne? Get more! Join the NewsOne Newsletter
The inaugural Urban One Honors occurred on Dec. 9, 2018, at the Anthem in Washington, D.C., and it was hosted by REACH Media Syndicated Radio Host DL Hughley. The first honorees included folks like Jermaine Dupri, April Ryan, Marvin Sapp, Brandy and DJ Khaled. Performers included Johnny Gill, Elle Varner and K-Ci of Jodeci.
This year, the honorees included Missy Elliott, Jamie Foxx, Ryan Jamaal Swain from the hit show “Pose”, Chance the Rapper and music executive Sylvia Rhone. Artists who took to the stage for powerhouse performances included Ne-Yo, Wale, Brandy, Charles Jenkins, Jac Ross, Chanté Moore and Eric Benét.
The two-hour telecast of the Urban One Honors will air on TV One, a division of Urban One, on Jan. 20, 2020, during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
“African Americans have had a tremendous impact on society and culture, a fact that we’re excited to celebrate with the telecast of the annual Urban One Honors on TV One,” said General Manager at TV One, Michelle Rice. “As we honor the 40th-anniversary milestone of Radio One, Ms. Hughes’ outstanding contributions as a media pioneer, and the impact of the honorees, we’re proud to continue the network’s mission to represent the richness of the black experience.”
“Our team at Radio One DC is profoundly humbled to be a part of this historic presentation of Urban One Honors,” said Jeff Wilson, Senior Vice President at Radio One. “It’s not only a celebration of 40 years of broadcast history but also a tribute to some of the most luminary figures in our American culture.”
You can check out some photos from the star-studded event below.
1. 2019 Urban One Honors – Arrivals
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Neyo and Cathy Hughes attend 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
2. 2019 Urban One Honors – Arrivals
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Ray J and Brandy attend 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
3. 2019 Urban One Honors – Arrivals
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Al Sharpton attends 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
4. 2019 Urban One Honors – Arrivals
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Eric Benét attends 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
5. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Missy Elliott speaks onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
6. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Jamie Foxx speaks onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
7. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Actor Billy Porter performs onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
8. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Rapper Chance The Rapper speaks onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
9. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Ryan Jamaal Swain speaks onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
10. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Singer Brandy performs onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
11. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Chris Tucker onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
12. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Neyo and Al B. Sure attend 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
13. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Al B. Sure performs onstage during 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
14. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: DaBrat and Billy Porter attend 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
15. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Kenny Burns and Lil’ Kim attend 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
16. 2019 Urban One Honors – Show
Source: Getty
OXON HILL, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 05: Wale attends 2019 Urban One Honors at MGM National Harbor on December 05, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Brian Stukes/WireImage)
