Lenny Kravitz Details His Inspirational Journey While Accepting Music Icon Award at 2024 PCAs

Lenny Kravitz is flying high after this win.

While accepting the Music Icon Award at the 2024 People's Choice Awards Feb. 18, the "Again" singer reflected on his decades-long musical career in a heartfelt speech. (See every star here.)

"When I was thinking about what to say tonight, I kept going back to that word icon," the 59-year-old said during his acceptance speech. "It means a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me, it means you've made an indelible mark by being who God created you to be and daring to be different. When I was first coming up, a lot of people offered me a lot of deals. But they wanted me to change."

As he explained, "My music wasn't black enough. It wasn't white enough. It didn't fit nicely inside a box or sound like what was on the radio at the time, and I turned down the money and the glitzy promises of fame, and stardom because I couldn't live with myself doing something inauthentic."

And looking back, the four-time Grammy winner credits his genuine love for the art alongside faith for his success.

"I've been doing this a very long time, more than 35 years," Lenny admitted. "It's never been about how many records I sell, or how many awards I win. It's not about trying to write hits or being calculated or formulaic. It's about enjoying and being grateful for the journey and using the gifts that God gave you."

And he also shared the mantra he's held close to his chest during his career. "Never follow the trends," he said, "set your own pace and recognize that the best is right here, right now, in front of you."

Along with his team and fans, Lenny also expressed his gratitude to his loved ones—like parents Sy Kravitz and Roxie Roker thanking them for "taking me to all those amazing concerts when I was a kid instead of leaving me home with the babysitter. 

Before his acceptance speech, Lenny also appeared on stage at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica to perform a medley of his biggest hits, including "Fly Away," "TK421" and "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over." Donning a pair of black sunglasses, a black leather blazer vest and leather pants to match, the Grammy winner proved his music iconography with his electrifying performance.

And when it comes to achieving milestones, Lenny's only proving it ain't over ‘til it's over. In fact, the People's Music Icon Award comes just days after The Hunger Games alum was named as a nominee for the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside other iconic musicians, including Cher, Mariah Carey, ​​Mary J. Blige and Ozzy Osbourne. 

"Woke up to this!" Lenny shared on Instagram Feb. 10. "Grateful to be nominated for this prestigious honor."

Keeping ready to see other stars who won big at the People's Choice Awards.

MOVIES

THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Barbie
Fast X
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Oppenheimer
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR FILM
The Little Mermaid
The Super Mario Bros. Movie

THE ACTION MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Fast X
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
WINNER: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
The Marvels
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

THE COMEDY MOVIE OF THE YEAR
80 for Brady
Anyone but You
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Asteroid City
WINNER: Barbie
Cocaine Bear
No Hard Feelings
Wonka

THE DRAMA MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Creed III
Five Nights at Freddy's
Killers of the Flower Moon
Leave the World Behind
M3GAN
WINNER: Oppenheimer
Scream VI
The Color Purple

THE MALE MOVIE STAR OF THE YEAR
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 4
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Creed III
WINNER: Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Timothée Chalamet, Wonka
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

THE FEMALE MOVIE STAR OF 2023
Florence Pugh, Oppenheimer
Halle Bailey, The Little Mermaid
Jenna Ortega, Scream VI
Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
Julia Roberts, Leave the World Behind
WINNER: Margot Robbie, Barbie
Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Viola Davis, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

THE ACTION MOVIE STAR OF THE YEAR
Brie Larson, The Marvels
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Gal Gadot, Heart of Stone
Jason Momoa, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 4
WINNER: Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Viola Davis, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

THE COMEDY MOVIE STAR OF THE YEAR
Adam Sandler, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
Glen Powell, Anyone but You
WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Scarlett Johansson, Asteroid City
Sydney Sweeney, Anyone but You
Timothée Chalamet, Wonka  

THE DRAMA MOVIE STAR OF THE YEAR
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Julia Roberts, Leave the World Behind
Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
Florence Pugh, Oppenheimer
Jacob Elordi, Priscilla
WINNER: Jenna Ortega, Scream VI
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Creed III

THE MOVIE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: America Ferrera, Barbie
Charles Melton, May December
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Jacob Elordi, Saltburn
Melissa McCarthy, The Little Mermaid
Natalie Portman, May December
Simu Liu, Barbie
Viola Davis, Air

TV

THE SHOW OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Grey's Anatomy
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Only Murders in the Building
Saturday Night Live
Ted Lasso
The Bear
The Last of Us
Vanderpump Rules

THE COMEDY SHOW OF THE YEAR
Abbott Elementary
And Just Like That...
Never Have I Ever
WINNER: Only Murders in the Building
Saturday Night Live
Ted Lasso
The Bear
Young Sheldon

THE DRAMA SHOW OF THE YEAR
Chicago Fire
Ginny & Georgia
Grey's Anatomy
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Outer Banks
Succession
WINNER: The Last of Us
The Morning Show

THE SCI-FI/FANTASY SHOW OF THE YEAR
Ahsoka
American Horror Story: Delicate
Black Mirror
Ghosts
WINNER: Loki
Secret Invasion
The Mandalorian
The Witcher

THE REALITY SHOW OF THE YEAR
90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?
Below Deck
Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Selling Sunset
WINNER: The Kardashians
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Vanderpump Rules

THE COMPETITION SHOW OF THE YEAR
America's Got Talent
American Idol
Big Brother
Dancing with the Stars
RuPaul's Drag Race
Survivor
Squid Game: The Challenge
WINNER: The Voice

THE BINGEWORTHY SHOW OF THE YEAR
Beef
Citadel
Jury Duty
Love Is Blind
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
The Crown
The Night Agent
WINNER: The Summer I Turned Pretty

THE MALE TV STAR OF THE YEAR
Chase Stokes, Outer Banks
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Kieran Culkin, Succession
WINNER: Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Samuel L. Jackson, Secret Invasion
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Tom Hiddleston, Loki

THE FEMALE TV STAR OF THE YEAR
Ali Wong, Beef
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka
WINNER: Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building

THE COMEDY TV STAR OF THE YEAR
Ali Wong, Beef
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building

THE DRAMA TV STAR OF THE YEAR
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Chase Stokes, Outer Banks
Ice-T, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
WINNER: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

THE TV PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Adjoa Andoh, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
WINNER: Billie Eilish, Swarm
Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Steven Yuen, Beef
Storm Reid, The Last of Us

THE REALITY TV STAR OF THE YEAR
Ariana Madix, Vanderpump Rules
Chrishell Stause, Selling Sunset
Garcelle Beauvais, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Kandi Burruss, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
WINNER: Khloé Kardashian, The Kardashians
Kim Kardashian, The Kardashians
Kyle Richards, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Jersey Shore Family Vacation

THE COMPETITION CONTESTANT OF THE YEAR
Anetra, RuPaul's Drag Race
WINNER: Ariana Madix, Dancing with the Stars
Charity Lawson, The Bachelorette
Theresa Nist, The Golden Bachelor
Iam Tongi, American Idol
Keke Palmer, That's My Jam
Sasha Colby, RuPaul's Drag Race
Xochitl Gomez, Dancing with the Stars

THE DAYTIME TALK SHOW OF THE YEAR
Good Morning America
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Sherri
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Jennifer Hudson Show
WINNER: The Kelly Clarkson Show
The View
Today

THE NIGHTTIME TALK SHOW OF THE YEAR
Hart to Heart
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Daily Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
WINNER: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

THE HOST OF THE YEAR
Gordon Ramsay, Hell's Kitchen
WINNER: Jimmy Fallon, That's My Jam
Nick Cannon, The Masked Singer
Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef
RuPaul, RuPaul's Drag Race
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Terry Crews, America's Got Talent

MUSIC

THE MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny
Drake
Jack Harlow
WINNER: Jung Kook
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
The Weeknd

THE FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Lainey Wilson
Miley Cyrus
Nicki Minaj
Olivia Rodrigo
WINNER: Taylor Swift

THE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson
HARDY
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan

THE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kelsea Ballerini
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Shania Twain

THE MALE LATIN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bad Bunny
Bizarrap
Feid
Manuel Turizo
Maluma
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Ozuna

THE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ángela Aguilar
Anitta
Becky G
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Rosalía
WINNER: Shakira
Young Miko

THE POP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Jung Kook
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
Tate McRae
WINNER: Taylor Swift

THE HIP-HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cardi B
Drake
Future
Jack Harlow
Latto
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Post Malone
Travis Scott

THE R&B ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Beyoncé
Brent Faiyaz
Janelle Monáe
SZA
Tems
The Weeknd
Usher
Victoria Monét

THE NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Coi Leray
WINNER: Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Jung Kook
Noah Kahan
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Stephen Sanchez

THE GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Dan + Shay
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Jonas Brothers
Old Dominion
Paramore
WINNER: Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER

THE SONG OF THE YEAR
"Dance The Night," Dua Lipa
"Fast Car," Luke Combs
"Flowers," Miley Cyrus
"Fukumean," Gunna
"greedy," Tate McRae
"Last Night," Morgan Wallen
"Paint The Town Red," Doja Cat
WINNER: "Vampire," Olivia Rodrigo

THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Endless Summer Vacation, Miley Cyrus
For All The Dogs, Drake
Gettin' Old, Luke Combs
WINNER: Guts, Olivia Rodrigo
Mañana Será Bonito, Karol G
Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, Bad Bunny
One Thing At A Time, Morgan Wallen
Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj

THE COLLABORATION SONG OF THE YEAR
"All My Life," Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
WINNER: "Barbie World," Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice With Aqua
"Ella Baila Sola," Eslabon Armado X Peso Pluma
"First Person Shooter," Drake Feat. J. Cole
"I Remember Everything," Zach Bryan Feat. Kasey Musgraves
"Seven," Jung Kook Feat. Latto
"TQG," Karol G, Shakira
"Un x100to," Grupo Frontera X Bad Bunny

THE CONCERT TOUR OF THE YEAR
+–=÷x Tour, Ed Sheeran
COLDPLAY MUSIC of the SPHERES WORLD TOUR
Love On Tour, Harry Styles
Luke Combs World Tour
Morgan Wallen One Night At A Time World Tour
P!nk Summer Carnival Tour
Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé
WINNER: TAYLOR SWIFT | THE ERAS TOUR

POP CULTURE

THE SOCIAL CELEBRITY OF THE YEAR
Britney Spears
Dwayne Johnson
Kim Kardashian
Kylie Jenner
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Selena Gomez
WINNER: Taylor Swift

THE COMEDY ACT OF THE YEAR
Baby J, John Mulaney
Emergency Contact, Amy Schumer
God Loves Me, Marlon Wayans
I'm An Entertainer, Wanda Sykes
Off The Record, Trevor Noah
Reality Check, Kevin Hart
WINNER: Selective Outrage, Chris Rock
Someone You Love, Sarah Silverman

THE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Coco Gauff
Giannis Antetokounmpo
LeBron James
Lionel Messi
Sabrina Ionescu
Simone Biles
Stephen Curry
WINNER: Travis Kelce

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