H.E.R. Shares Oprah Winfrey's Advice and Inspiration From 'The Color Purple' Set (Exclusive)

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H.E.R. is going to do, it's wow a crowd.The 26-year-old singer delivered a stunning performance during Wednesday's 2023 ESPY Awards, playing her latest single, the elegant power ballad «The Journey,» as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of basketball coach Jimmy Valvano's inspirational speech at the first ESPYS in 1993 when he was terminally ill with cancer.Valvano was an American college basketball player, coach and broadcaster who served as head coach at North Carolina State University and led his team to win the 1983 NCAA men's basketball title against the heavily favored Houston Cougars.Per , Valvano's famous speech implored the audience to laugh, think and cry each day.

He also announced the formation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, whose motto would be «Don't give up. Don't ever give up.» Valvano died less than two months later, on April 28, 1993, from adenocarcinoma.

ET spoke with the singer fresh off the stage of her performance, where she shared how special the experience was for her.«This is my first time at the ESPYS and to be able to perform for a moment like that, the 30-year anniversary of that impactful speech, it was just so fitting with the song and the message,» she says. «Everybody has a journey [and] for it to be told in this way, on this stage, is really really special for me.

An honor for me and I'm a huge sports fan, so the fact that I'm here is like, wow. I'm fangirling!»It's a time of many firsts for H.E.R., who will embark on an entirely new journey when the holidays come around.