Jamie Foxx Honors Quincy Jones at Governors Awards 2 Weeks After His Death: His 'Impact' Will 'Never Be Forgotten'

Mar. 15, 2025

Quincy Joneshas received a posthumous honoraryAcademy Award.

Two weeks after the legendary musician and producerdied on Nov. 3 at age 91ofpancreatic cancer, he was among the recipients of this year’s special Oscar statuettes at theGovernors Awardson Sunday, Nov. 17.

Foxx, 56, honored the seven-time Academy Award nominee in a heartfelt speech about his longtime “illustrious” friend and “inspiration.”

Jamie Foxx honors Quincy Jones at the Governors Awards in Hollywood, California, on Nov. 17, 2024.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Foxx also thanked Jones for his advocacy surrounding Down syndrome, especially in the context of his late sisterDeOndra Dixon, who was born with the condition anddied in 2020.

“She inspired the foundation’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. She was its first recipient. And for that, I’m forever grateful,” the actor said.

Quincy Jones and Jamie Foxx in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2019.Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

After listing off several accomplishments of Jones', Foxx continued his speech, “The impact he has will never be forgotten.”

“Quincy, thank you for giving the world music. Thank you for giving the world light. Thank you for giving the world an example of what a great human being is supposed to be like,” he concluded.

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Jamie Foxx and Quincy Jones.Katie Jones/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Katie Jones/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

In addition to producing, scoring and writing songs for 1967’sIn Cold BloodandBanning, 1968’sFor Love of Ivy, 1978’sThe Wizand 1985’sThe Color Purple, Jones received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' honoraryJean Hersholt Humanitarian Awardin 1993.

This year’s recipient of that award was filmmakerRichard Curtis, while casting director Juliet Taylor andJames BondproducersMichael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccolialso accepted honorary trophies.

“Therecipients of this year’s Governors Awardshave set the bar incredibly high across their remarkable careers, and the Academy’s Board of Governors is thrilled to recognize them with Oscars,” said Academy President Janet Yangin a statementreleased June 12.

Yang said Jones was being recognized for his “artistic genius and relentless creativity [as] one of the most influential musical figures of all time.”

Quincy Jones in Westwood, California, on Dec. 10, 2019.Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

Rashida, 48, also read the speech her father had planned to give at the Governors Awards before his death, adding of her own words, “In some ways, it was a difficult decision for our family to be here tonight, but we felt like we wanted to celebrate his beautiful life and career.”

“His music has literally defined an entire century of culture-spanning genres: jazz, disco, film, pop, R&B, hip-hop. But the real thread is that his music is all infused with his love. That was his gift to us,” she added.

“You lived the biggest, best, most beautiful life of love every single day you were here,” Rashida addressed her father, concluding, “In honor of our dad, we hope you will do the same. Live with love, lead with love. Bring love to everything that you do. Thank you so much.”

Last year’s Governors Awards gave honorary Oscars to industry legendsAngela Bassett,Mel Brooks, Carol Littleton and Michelle Satter.

source: people.com