• Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Black Beauty Awards 2022
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2022 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • Wellness House
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

READ MORE LESS
By Danielle Kwateng-Clark · Updated December 6, 2020

On Thursday, Missy Elliott accepted the 2018 ESSENCE Black Women in Music Visionary Award at New York City’s Highline Ballroom just days before the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

The event, which is in its’ 9th year, was presented in partnership with The Recording Academy and sponsored by Lincoln Motor Company and AT&T.

ESSENCE Festival 2018 ticket packages are on sale now! For more info and the latest news, visit our Festival page HERE.

Close friend and fellow music icon Janet Jackson presented  Missy with her award and gave a heartwarming speech about their bond. As fellow trailblazers in music, it was beautiful to witness the two women celebrate each other and all the women attending the event. Elliott also touched on their friendship, noting that even in the dead of night, she can call the Control singer. 

“I’ve known Janet over a decade,” Missy said. “This is not just a business… someone I do music with. I can call Janet at the dead of night…and she will listen.”

Adding, “She always has this soft soothing voice and the times I felt like giving up so always gave me an encouraging word and I watched her as strong, Black, powerful women who’s had to overcome many obstacles. So I just want to say I appreciate you for inspiring me — and I’m quite sure — everyone in here.”

.@MissyElliott gave us a word at #BlackWomenInMusic 💜 pic.twitter.com/LEyq8Ryhte

— ESSENCE (@Essence) January 26, 2018

Speaking to fans, media, music insiders and close industry friends (including Misa Hylton, June Ambrose and Mona Scott-Young), Elliott gave an emotional speech about her journey to success. The 46-year-old discussed her health, overcoming discouraging moments and her support system of Black women.

“I want all of you women in here to know that you’re beautiful,” Elliott said. “You gotta believe in yourself. Because there are going to be times that people tell you [that] you can’t do it or you don’t look the part. But I am a walking testimony.”

When two icons link up... @MissyElliott x @JanetJackson #BlackWomeinMusic pic.twitter.com/naEHffI0U7

— ESSENCE (@Essence) January 26, 2018

“I did a record and someone replaced me who was more of the look,” Elliott began. “That discouraged me. I was dropped, that discouraged me. But we don’t control timing.”

“Don’t let me start preaching here, ’cause everybody don’t believe in God, but I’m going to walk in testimony. I may offend some people but the God I serve is powerful. And if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here today. I was sick and I couldn’t even lift a pin. My nervous system had broken all the way down. I didn’t come out here in a wheelchair. Nobody helped me get up here. I walked here — but it was through the grace of God. That’s a whole ‘nother ballgame.”

She went on to talk about how she looks back on her obstacles.

“But I say that because even them replacing me with someone they deemed to be more beautiful or the look, it didn’t stop me. Because I knew that I was gifted and I knew there was an anointing.”

“I want all of you women, to know that you are beautiful…We can get the weave, but these lace fronts are taking off our edges anyway. When they strip all of that you gotta know that you’re beautiful and enough because there are going to be times that people [think] you can’t do it or you don’t look the part. I’m a walking testimony, I stand here today.”

Ending on a funny note she said, “Don’t get it twisted, I know I sang ‘Minute Man’ and ‘Pussy Don’t Fail Me Now,’ so I know they get you confused. But I got church in me.”

TOPICS:  Missy Elliot
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now