On June 5th, the 6th annual Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards were held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, honoring individuals who made a significant impact on culture, attracting renowned presenters, esteemed honorees, and captivating performers.
The ceremony was hosted by Emmy, Grammy, and NAACP Image Award-winning actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish. “No matter where I am in the world or what I am doing, I always make time to come here and celebrate our excellence, our achievements, and our culture. Tonight’s theme is ‘This is home’ because it is a night when we can have fun and just be ourselves. This night created this show to honor artists, leaders, entrepreneurs, activists, and visionaries who are using their platforms to create real change in our communities,” Haddish shared in her opening remarks to the audience.
There were impromptu performances from its star-studded room, including a freestyle from Da Brat, Yolanda Adams, Tyler Perry (who surprised the audience by singing), Chante Moore, Kirk Franklin, Yo-Yo, and Inayah, among others. Performances throughout the evening included Chlöe Bailey (GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter, actress, and producer), Kierra Sheard (GRAMMY and Stellar Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, and actress), Joyner Lucas (two-time GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop artist, actor, entertainer, and entrepreneur), Jekalyn Carr, and Sheléa (singer, songwriter, musician, and actress).
The Impact Awards drew a full house of notable celebrities and culture leaders, including the evening’s honorees: Meagan Good, actress, director, producer, entrepreneur, and advocate, who was honored with the Spirit Award. RZA, filmmaker, producer, director, and writer, was presented with the Culture Award; Representative Justin Jones received the Community Award; former marketing executive and reality television personality, Bozoma Saint John, received the Pioneer Award and Kirk Franklin were presented with the Inspiration Award; singer and songwriter Kehlani with the Fearlessness Award; actor, director, and philanthropist, Tyler Perry received the Innovator Award, and lastly legendary singer Patti LaBelle, received the Legacy Award.
Saint John, the recipient of the Pioneer Award, reflected on the true nature of pioneers, highlighting the unseen struggles they face, such as ridicule and isolation. Despite achieving significant success, including being named an influential CMO and CEO, she vulnerably shared how she still faces doubts about their belonging. She also emphasized the importance of being recognized and celebrated while alive, especially for women, and for Black women in particular, who have historically been overlooked. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what this word means, pioneer, and we love to celebrate pioneers once the path is clear, but we don’t talk enough about what it costs the person who holds the machine, and because the pioneer is not the person who’s walking down the beautifully paved road with the street lights and the signs and the GPS that’s saying you have arrived, they are often are the ones who’s standing in the wilderness, the one who believes that there’s something on the other side,” she stated to the audience. “Thank you, Jason, for seeing my bruises. Thank you for seeing my wounds, for seeing the beauty of my journey, and for giving me my flowers while I can still smell them.”
Before accepting her award, Good reflected on her 40-year career in the industry, emphasizing trust in God’s plan despite life’s complexities. She recounted her transition from child actor to adult, deciding to prioritize God’s will over her own ambitions. Good highlights the purpose of her journey: using her platform to uplift others and promote kindness, compassion, and love. “I think the last couple of years have really cemented my ability to always see light, even in the darkness. My resilience, and most of all, trusting God, knowing that every single thing that God has told me in every single season has still been true, and while the journey is complex, it is a gift. Still, the lesson that is crystal clear is trust, not trust when the prayers get answered exactly how I hoped, but trust when it doesn’t make sense, so I approach everything in life, every circumstance, every chapter, every part of the journey, knowing that one thing remains true: God always has my highest Good in mind, even when I can’t see it,” she said.
Good continued, “I always dreamed of being an actress, that I would be allowed to be creative, to do good work, to experience new things and people and go on big life adventures doing the thing that I love to do, but in the same breath I was really inspired by watching interviews of people whose journeys I admired, and it got me thinking, ‘What would my true Hollywood story be? What would it look like? How would it hopefully impact someone else? What would I leave behind?’ I realized my greatest joy and fulfillment came from when I was being used, when I was using the platform that God has so graciously given me to pour into others and do something bigger than myself. I began to understand that the journey isn’t about me; it’s all about us.”
Lastly, LaBelle expressed deep gratitude and humility upon receiving the evening’s highest honor, acknowledging her 65-year career and the hard work required to succeed. She felt honored by the recognition and touched by the support from Lee and the audience, likening the experience to feeling like a queen. “I’m very honored and very nervous that I am in the company of all the wonderful people who received their honors tonight. We have to work hard, and I’ve been working hard for 65 years, proving myself to the world that I am somebody.”
The Impact Awards also celebrated the continued growth of Lee’s Hollywood Cares Foundation – a nonprofit founded in 2022, dedicated to uplifting underserved youth in Black and Brown communities through programming centered around youth leadership, civic engagement, and personal development. The Hollywood Cares Foundation received overwhelming support from guest donations, raising funds to advance its mission of bringing resources together to reimagine a new future for our youth and local communities.
