Surprise! Beyoncé Opens Up the 2016 BET Awards With a Special Performance Featuring Kendrick Lamar

"Formation" singer takes a break from touring across the country to perform in Los Angeles

By Mike Vulpo Jun 27, 2016 12:12 AMTags

Now this is how you start an awards show!

Never one to shy away from a good surprise, Beyoncé pleasantly shocked us all by opening up the 2016 BET Awards

While standing in a pool full of water, the genius mind behind Lemonade performed "Freedom" before Kendrick Lamar stepped on stage to join in on the show-stopping performance. As you likely could have guessed, everyone in the audience gave a standing ovation after the moment.

A source later told E! News that BET had been planning the surprise for a bit but kept it secret from the network until this weekend.

The evening comes after the singer celebrated her sister Solange Knowles' birthday in New Mexico on Saturday.

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As seen on Snapchat and Instagram, the birthday girl documented a celebratory lunch that ultimately became a family affair.

"Dreams made true," the singer wrote on Instagram while wearing a bright orange dress. "I'm never coming home if you keep making honey peach and hibiscus lime popsicles."

Sunday night's performance also comes right in the middle of Beyoncé's tour. On Tuesday, the "Halo" singer is back on stage near the United Kingdom. 

Until then, we're just going to savor this special surprise. Keep doing you, Bey! 

—Additional reporting by Sara Kitnick

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