D'Angelo's three children delivered an emotional tribute to their late father at the 2026 BET Awards, honoring the soul legend's legacy.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleIt has been less than a year since the world lost Michael Eugene Archer, aka D'Angelo. The neo-soul icon died at the mere age of 51 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. So when his children walked up to the stage for a heartfelt tribute at the 2026 BET Awards, their performance became one of the most emotional moments of the night.
D'Angelo's daughter, Imani Archer, joined her brothers, Michael Archer Jr. and Morocco Archer, on stage Sunday night to celebrate the Grammy-winning singer's life and legacy. Their heartfelt introduction set the tone for an all-star musical tribute that honored not only the legendary artist but also the father they cherished.
On June 28, 2026, D'Angelo's three children kicked off the star-studded musical tribute with a heartwarming message about their late father. "To the world, he was D'Angelo, to us he was just Dad," Imani said, before Morocco described the late singer as their "biggest hype man and protector." Michael Jr., who performs under the stage name Swayvo, then introduced D'Angelo's longtime band, The Vanguard, explaining that it was only fitting that the band itself helped honor the late artist. Swayvo said:
"One of the things that brought our father the most joy was performing with his band, The Vanguard. So, it’s only right that they’re here with us along with some other special guests to honor the man who meant the whole world to us. So, Pops, this one’s for you. Let’s do it!”
The trio's tribute followed a lineup of special guests who performed some of D'Angelo's biggest hits in his memory. The emotional tribute featured performances from Raye, Ari Lennox, George Clinton, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Durand Bernarr, who celebrated D'Angelo's timeless catalog and lasting influence on R&B and neo-soul.
With the renewed attention on the late singer's legacy, here's everything you need to know about D'Angelo's three children.
D'Angelo welcomed his eldest child, Michael Archer Jr., in 1997 with late R&B singer Angie Stone, before splitting two years later. Archer Jr., who goes by his stage name Swayvo Twain, has followed in his legendary parents' footsteps and made a name as a rapper and musician.
During D'Angelo's final days, Swayvo stayed by his side, and the two grew extremely close. After his death in October 2025, Swayvo shared an emotional tribute on social media, revealing how deeply his father had inspired him. He said:
"I want you to know how proud I am of the person you are. I want you to know how much you inspired me every single day."
The exact details of Imani's birth remain under wraps, but as of June 2026, she is reportedly 26 years old. Born in Los Angeles and raised across several states, Imani has spoken openly about discovering her passion for music at a young age after hearing singer Keyshia Cole on the radio. She later began writing songs as a teenager and continues pursuing music independently.
Like her late father, who was known for keeping his private life under wraps, Imani has also quietly carved out a music career of her own, rarely saying anything about her mother. Following D’Angelo’s death, she shared a touching photo of the father-daughter duo making music together. The photo features the legendary singer playing the guitar with Imani sitting next to him.
Unlike his siblings, Morocco has maintained a low profile for the most part. He is the youngest son of the late singer and is said to be 15 years old. Information regarding Morocco’s mom is also not available, as D’Angelo rarely talked about his personal relationships. Not much is known about the teen, and his appearance at the 2026 BET Awards was one of his few public appearances.
D’Angelo passed away on October 14, 2025, at the age of 51, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His passing came only months after the death of Angie Stone, who died in a car accident in March 2025 at the age of 63. Despite having lost both parents just months apart, the three siblings drew strength from each other, and their emotional appearance at the 2026 BET Awards became one of the most memorable moments of the night.
For the world, he was the pioneering vouce voice of neo-soul, but for his children, D'Angelo was simply "Dad" to the three children who continue to honor his memory.
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