The legendary and soulful Erykah Badu accepts the 2025 Billboard Women In Music “Icon Award” and before doing so, she offers some industry advice, jokingly telling women to “suck hard.”
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On Saturday (March 29), The 2025 Billboard Women in Music event took place in Los Angeles. The event, hosted by Laverne Cox, celebrated the influence and contributions of women across the music industry. This year’s honorees included:
- Erykah Badu for Icon Award
- Doechii for Woman of the Year Award
- GloRilla for Powerhouse Award
- Tyla for Impact Award presented by Bose
- Muni Long for Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage
- Tina Knowles for Mother of the Year Award
- Meghan Trainor for Hitmaker Award
- Ángela Aguilar for Breakthrough Award
- ANNA for Billboard Italy Woman of the Year
- Charlotte Cardin for Billboard Canada Woman of the Year
- aespa for Group of the Year Award;
- Gracie Abrams for Songwriter of the Year Award
- JENNIE for Global Force Award
- Megan Moroney for Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky
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Additionally, dozens of other music industry moves and shakers were honored at the event for their remarkable contributions to the business. Five of those women – agents from some of the top booking agencies in the industry – were honored as the 2025 Executives of the Year: Jenna Adler, Lucy Dickins, Samantha Kirby Yoh, Cara Lewis, and Marsha Vlasic.
As for performances, honorees Erykah Badu, Muni Long, Tyla, aespa, Ángela Aguilar, Gracie Abrams, and Megan Moroney all slayed the stage, in addition to offering some inspiring acceptance speeches. And speaking of speeches, Summer Walker presented Erykah Badu with her “Icon Award.”
Erykah Badu Jokingly Advises Industry Women To ‘Suck Hard,’ Recalls Telling Daughter About Her ‘P Power’ At Age 4
Towards the end of Badu’s speech, she recalls teaching her youngest daughter, Mars Merkaba Badu Electronica, 16, about her private area. She said, “The vagina is the most important thing on the planet.” Badu shares Mars with rapper Jay Electronica.
Before the event started, Erykah Badu also shared some industry advice for women on the carpet. While speaking iHeartRadio’s Real 92.3 LA, Badu looked into the camera and said, “Uhh. One piece of advice? Suck hard, girls. Suck hard.”
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