Rita Ora took to the stage at this year’s VH1 Trailblazer Honors to give a heartfelt performance of “Soul Survivor,” the emotional climax of her debut album. The singer, clad in a ruffled black and white dress, was backed by a simple string quartet before being joined onstage by a group of powerful women.
“Soul Survivor” was originally written as a personal anthem for Ora, detailing the star’s tumultuous relationship with her former label, Roc Nation. The singer filed a lawsuit in 2015, saying that after seven years at the label she was only allowed to release one song. She references her fight with the company on the track, singing, “It’s been seven long years fighting for your attention/ Manipulated by fear and misdirection.”
Along with a performance from Ora, the Trailblazer Honors recognized the powerful women in our society who aim to make the world a better place, with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and filmmaker Ava DuVernay receiving the night’s top honors.
VH1 will air the Trailblazer Honors of Friday, March 8 (International Women’s Day) at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Check out an exclusive clip of Rita Ora performing “Soul Survivor” below: