Singers Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson received the honoree Soul Train Legend Award.
Michael Jackson was honoree for posthumous award for Entertainer of the Year. Beyoncé won three awards; Best Female Artist, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. LeToya served as host for the Red-Carpet Show.
Upon its return, BET commissioned a new trophy for the Soul Train Music Awards. The new trophy, a train, replaced the signature African mask trophy used from 1987 to 2007.
In an episode of Community, "Social Psychology", character Troy mentions the Soul Train Awards when complaining about participating in a study that never begins.