The genuine connection between Jamie Foxx and Kehlani onstage didn’t happen by chance. While their performance at the 2026 BET Awards introduced their chemistry to a broader audience, the two have shared a professional bond for years. Foxx has consistently shown support for Kehlani’s music throughout her career, making his emotional praise after Sunday’s performance feel more like a proud mentor celebrating another milestone than a typical celebrity endorsement.
That relationship was also evident during their BET Awards set. Foxx brought his daughter, Anelise Bishop, onstage to accompany Kehlani during a performance of “Folded,” revealing that the song had become a favorite in their home. The touching moment brought together multiple generations of artists, creating the perfect backdrop for the heartfelt interaction they later shared behind the scenes.
In a video shared after their performance, Jamie Foxx opened up about why he has continued to support Kehlani throughout her career.
“She’s very, very talented,” Foxx said in the clip. “She dodged the wolves, became what she is right now. An incredible artist that we all marvel at. We want to take time to say that we love you, we love your talent, we’re glad that you are here. We’re glad that you survived the wolves, and because of that, that’s what’s gonna make it even better.”
In the caption, Kehlani looked back on the first time she met Foxx as a teenager.
“Fun fact, i was like 13 or 14 and my band drove to LA to perform,” she wrote. “We got invited to Jamie’s house and we were fully convinced we were getting signed. whole time, he just thought we were epic and wanted to guide us in any way possible. fast forward 18 YEARS later and we just killed BET & are laughing about it at dinner. thank you Jamie for this day, for that day when i was a kid.. and for whatever we have to do next. i appreciate you and all the life you speak into me. you got family in me 4L!! @iamjamiefoxx to us!”
