Jesse Williams

The BET Awards — or “The Prince Tribute Show” — featured emotional and energetic performances from Sheila E., Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson honoring the Purple One, along with political statements on issues ranging from racial injustice to the U.S. presidential election.

Sheila E. closed the three-hour-plus show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with “Let’s Work,” “A Love Bizarre,” “The Glamorous Life,” “America” and more. She was joined by Prince’s ex-wife, Mayte Garcia, who danced alongside the background dancers throughout the set.

They ended by raising a purple guitar in the air as the audience cheered them on.

Hudson sang “Purple Rain.” Hudson was a vocal powerhouse, delivering screeching vocals while Wonder played piano and Tori Kelly was on guitar.

During the performance, a photo montage of Prince appeared on the purple-lit stage.

Though the BET Awards were heavy on honoring the icon who died on April 21, the show went from Prince to political throughout the night.

“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Jesse Williams, who earned the humanitarian award for his efforts as an activist, gave a fiery, nearly six-minute speech that brought the audience to its feet and earned a rousing applause.

Williams was introduced by BET CEO Debra Lee, who spoke about gun violence and brought up the recent Orlando shooting at the Pulse nightclub.

“We all need to take stance against gun violence.

“You can make a difference,” Lee said onstage. “Use your voice and vote.”