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Jamie Foxx thankful for 'second chance' at life after suffering health crisis

Jamie Foxx teared up during an emotional speech at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday night.

Amid the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Stevie Wonder presented the actor-singer with the Ultimate Icon Award.

"He hit me up because of his win - Academy Award - for (2004 movie) Ray. And I said, 'You know Jamie, just because you play a blind man that don't mean that we're besties, OK?'" the music legend jokingly recalled. "I knew from the moment I heard you sing that you had so much more. I admire and celebrate your talent. I'm very happy to be here tonight to see you honoured as you very well deserve."

A series of artists then appeared onstage to honour Foxx's music career, with Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds and Ludacris covering his 2005 song Unpredictable, while Tank performed a rendition of Ray Charles's 1958 classic, Night Time Is the Right Time.

In addition, Jennifer Hudson belted out the lyrics from the superstar's feature in Kanye West's 2005 track, Gold Digger.

After hugging Wonder, Foxx launched into a heartfelt acceptance speech.

"Man, we used to take this thing for granted - that God is good. All the time. I cannot even begin to express the love that I feel from everybody out there," he began.

Foxx then started to cry as he reflected on surviving a near-fatal stroke in April 2023.

"I gotta be honest - when I saw the 'In Memoriam' (segment of the awards show), I was like, 'Man, that could have been me,'" the 57-year-old continued. "But I don't know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance I'm not going turn down. I'm not going to turn down."

Foxx also remembered how he begged God for "one more crack" at life.

"I said whatever reason you put this on me, I promise I'm going to do right. I'm going do right in front of y'all, because I know a lot of times, when we get on, we forget about where we come from," he added.

Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin were also presented with the Ultimate Icon Award during the ceremony.

Kendrick Lamar swept the competitive categories at the show, taking home Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Album of the Year for GNX.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Cover Media
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