Gladys Knight Receives the Legend Award on '2011 Soul Train Awards' (VIDEO)

Gladys Knight -- a.k.a. The Empress of Soul -- was rightly honored at this year's '2011 Soul Train Awards' (Sun., 9PM ET on BET). To a standing ovation from the audience, singer Natalie Cole presented her with the Legend Award.

Veteran recording artists Elton John, Smokey Robinson and Patti LaBelle paid tribute on video, with John saying that in 40 years of listening to Gladys performing live he's never heard her hit a bum note. Then more performers took to the stage for a truly epic medley of her greatest hits.

Accepting her award Gladys said "I have received awards over the years and I am grateful for every single one of them. But let me tell you something,. This one right here is the closest to my heart because it comes from my people. ... You're telling the world that I passed this way and I did something that was alright."

List of winners:

Best New Artist – Miguel
Best Male R&B and Soul – Cee-Lo Green
Best Caribbean Performance – Rihanna 'Man Dow'
Best Gospel Performance – Mary Mary 'Walking'
Album of the Year – Chris Brown 'F.A.M.E'
Best Hip-Hop Song – Nicki Minaj 'Moment For Life'
Best Female R&B and Soul Artist – Jill Scott
Song of the Year – Kelly Rowland 'Motivation'
Record of the Year (Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award) – Marsha Ambrosius 'Far Away'
Best Dance Performance – Beyonce 'Run the World'
Best Traditional Jazz Album – Cassandra Wilson
Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Dave Koz