Teyana Taylor left ‘gagging’ after Janet Jackson's unexpected 2026 BET appearance

Janet Jackson tugged at Teyana Taylor’s heartstrings after she made a special appearance just to present her Icon of the Year award at the 2026 BET Awards.

On Sunday night, Teyana, who was sitting among the audience at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, jumped out of her seat in shock and burst into tears when she saw Janet on stage.

After the duo held hands, Janet began to gush over Teyana, “What a year it's been for you.

“It seems like only yesterday our rose from Harlem grew out of the concrete and blossomed into our Icon of the Year. I’ve enjoyed watching you defy expectations, rewrite the rules, and lead with an unstoppable work ethic.”

For the five-time Grammy winner, Teyana is “a testament to the greatest superhero the world will ever know: The Black woman.”

Janet continued, “You possess an unflinching perfectionism, a devotion woven into everything you touch. You carry a calling from above, and the world is made more luminous with the art that you have given it.”

Teyana then took over the microphone and admitted she was "gagging" because of Janet's unannounced appearance.

The Oscar nominee said, “They did not tell me Janet was coming."

She then expressed her admiration and gratitude to Janet, noting, “I love you so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you for always seeing me. Thank you for every text, every hug, every talk. You are my biggest inspiration.”

Teyana also mentioned her daughters, Junie, 10, and Rue, five, saying, “I pray the two of you always remember me simply as home. Mommy loves you so, so much.”