Although Rihanna is the one who was honored with the first ever prestigious Icon Award Sunday night at the American Music Awards, it was her mother who stole the show.

During the AMAs at the Nokie Theater in Los Angeles, Monica Fenty joined her daughter on the stage to present her with one of the highest honors of the night. However, before being presented the award, Rihanna took to the stage to perform her hit song, Diamonds.

“Rihanna, I am so proud of you tonight,” she said while holding hands with Rihanna. “I know the journey in your career has not always been an easy one, but tonight I applaud you and admire you for being so strong and so positive and so humble and so focused.” She continued, “It’s amazing how you always manage to take good from all your experiences. I am so blessed to be a part of this historic moment.”

“About 20 years ago is when I first started making your life a living hell with my annoying like husky ‘man voice,’ you would call it,” Rihanna said. She then proceeded to thank her mom for having faith in her music career and giving her the opportunity to live her dream. “I literally begged and pleaded and she finally said yes,” she said. “And I thank you and we all thank you for that yes because that was the beginning of it all.”

While accepting one of his three awards, Justin Timberlake talked about how “cute” Rihanna’s mom is and then told Rihanna that he is also proud of her.

“Can we talk about how cute Rihanna’s mom is?” Timberlake said. “She’s so proud of the Icon. I am too, Rihanna, I love you.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons