Jilly from Philly will receive the first-ever Lady of Soul Award at this year’s Soul Train Awards. But don’t expect the songstress—who says she is totally flattered by the honor—to be watching, and tweeting along with us, come Sunday night when the awards air on Centric. Scott tells Essence she still gets jitters seeing herself on screen.
“I can’t watch myself,” she says. “My stomach turns. I don’t know who that person is, typically. I know I was there, but it’s kind of an out-of-body experience.
“It’s very strange. I’m in myself, but I’m not myself. Yeah, it’s schizophrenic.”
Jill Scott’s Prettiest Pouts
Asked what she thinks of the award, which honors female artists for their longstanding influence in music, Jill says, “I’m like, ‘Aw, thank you for thinking of me, y’all,’” her warmth beaming through the phone. “I really appreciate Soul Train honoring me with this award. I’m still a little in shock.”
The Philly native recalls waking up on Saturday mornings to catch the iconic show. “Oh my God! Channel 17 on Saturday mornings,” she says, excitedly. “I’d turn on Soul Train. I saw Al Green and James Brown perform live. I saw the O’Jays, LL Cool J, and so many more. It felt live to me because they were in my house. It felt like somebody’s basement party. It’s a testament that we’re still doing the Soul Train line.”
Have You Earned the Right To Call Jill Scott ‘Jilly from Philly’?
And speaking of a Soul Train line, Jill has had only one chance to ease on down the middle, dancing. “It was at the Get On Up premiere,” she recalls. “My mother did it, so I had to. I was like, ‘I can’t let my mom show me up.’”
Jill will perform a few of her hits, including “Golden,” and “Long Walk.”
Catch Jill Scott at the 2015 Soul Train Awards, hosted by Erykah Badu and airing on Centric this Sunday, November 29 at 8pm ET.