Patti LaBelle honored with Lifetime Achievement Award.
Patti LaBelle honored with Lifetime Achievement Award. Reuters

Legendary American singer Patricia Louise Holt Edwards, better known under stage name Patti LaBelle, was honored Sunday at the annual 2011 BET Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cee Lo Green, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and others paid tribute to Patti LaBelle. Green surprised everyone with his choice of costume, actually dressed up as LaBelle in a sparkly jacket and spiky wig that he sprayed with hair spray -- to perform her song Somebody Loves You, a HollywoodReporter report said.

Other performers were Shirley Ceaser and Marsha Ambrosius, the latter of whom performed LaBelle's If Only You Knew. LaBelle herself was also on the stage to perform two of her hits, including Lady Marmalade.

The legendary singer, author and actress, known for her hit numbers like Lady Marmalade and Dan Swit Me, received her award from Gladys Knight.

While accepting the honor, LaBelle said: I plan to hold myself up higher because I've gotten this wonderful award the Washington Post quoted.

Established in the year 2001, the BET Awards celebrate the works of African Americans and other minorities in fields like music, acting and sports over the past year.

LaBelle spent sixteen years as lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, who changed their name to Labelle in the early 1970s and released the disco song, Lady Marmalade.

LaBelle started her solo career shortly after the group disbanded in 1977 and crossed over to pop music with On My Own, If Only You Knew, If You Asked Me To, Stir It Up and New Attitude. She has also recorded R&B ballads such as You Are My Friend and Love, Need and Want You.