R&B singer Jill Scott has been named a 2026 inductee to the R&B Hall of Fame, marking a milestone in a career spanning nearly three decades. In a Billboard panel interview with staff writer Kyle Denis, Scott reflected on the experiences that shaped her, including touring with The Roots early in her career, and discussed why longevity and musicianship remain central to her work.

Scott recalled being paid $500 a night to sing the hook on The Roots' "You Got Me," an amount that felt significant at the time despite taxes reducing it to roughly $278. She said the experience inspired her own approach of paying supporting artists on her tours, rather than leaving newer acts unpaid, as a way of "paying it forward." The conversation also touched on her new album, "To Whom This May Concern," her commitment to live instrumentation, and her single "Pressure," which reached number one on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.