Watch Jill Scott Accept Her Billboard R&B Hall of Fame Induction: ‘This Is a Testament to Yes’

"My precious career has proven to me," she asserted, "when the soul says yes, the juice is worth the squeeze."

Jill Scott accepts the R&B Hall of Fame Award at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players 2026 event on Sept. 9, 2026, in New York City.

Kristina Bumphrey/Billboard

Take it from Jill Scott: Her illustrious career, a multi-decade calling packed with hits, accolades and acclaim across the spectrum, boils down to one word: Yes.

Inducted into the Billboard R&B Hall of Fame on Wednesday (Sept. 9) by Trevor Anderson, Billboard’s senior charts and data analyst for R&B/hip-hop, the award-winning singer-songwriter reflected to the audience at Ludlow House in New York City how her esteemed career began with a simple yet powerful decision: “This is a testament to yes,” she began. “Many years ago, I had someone hurt my feelings. I wrote a poem — it made me feel better. I shared it, and my girlfriend said go read it at a poetry reading, and I said yes.”