H.E.R. Honors Marvin Gaye with Performance of 'What's Going On' at 2021 People's Choice Awards

Earlier this year, H.E.R. honored Gaye with a Juneteenth recording of "Inner City Blues"

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Published on December 7, 2021 10:53PM EST

H.E.R. Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/E! Entertainment/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Honoring the greatest!

H.E.R. hit the stage to honor Marvin Gaye with a rendition of "What's Going On" on its 50th anniversary at the People's Choice Awards on Tuesday evening.

"What's Going On" was the title track of Gaye's 1971 album, which featured songs such as "Mercy Mercy Me," "Inner City Blues" and "What's Happening Brother."

Earlier this year, H.E.R. also honored Gaye with Apple Music by recording "Inner City Blues" for Juneteenth.

"The simple hook of 'Make me wanna holler, the way they do my life' — as if my life is of lesser value than someone else's. I just thought there was so much power in that message and that it applies to now. It's one of those songs that we play and still relate to today," H.E.R. said about the song at the time.

H.E.R. also covered both "What's Going On" and "Inner City Blues" during her SiriusXM Small Stage Series performance at the Apollo Theatre in New York City.

2021 Peoples Choice Awards Arrivals — Christopher Polk/NBC/Getty

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As for Gaye's legacy, Gaye — who was shot and killed by his father in 1984 — was a three-time Grammy winner and is regarded as one of the most groundbreaking artists in history. He earned two Grammys in 1983 for his song "Sexual Healing" and a posthumous lifetime achievement award at the 1997 Grammys.

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Among Gaye's greatest hits are "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Sexual Healing" and "Let's Get It On."

For this year's People's Choice Awards, F9 leads the film categories with eight nominations, while This Is Us tops the TV categories with six nominations. Justin Bieber received 10 music nominations. When Demi Lovato hosted last year's ceremony, BTS were the biggest winners with four awards.

While Aguilera will receive the Music Icon award, Halle Berry is set to receive the People's Icon award. Cardi B will present it to her.

The 2021 People's Choice Awards — hosted by Kenan Thompson — are airing simultaneously on NBC and E!.