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Spike Lee would like to emphasize: Denzel Washington is the G.O.A.T.
"That means the greatest of all time," said the "Malcolm X" director, one of many celebs who invoked Washington's G.O.A.T. status before the Oscar winner was presented with the American Film Institute's life achievement award Thursday night.
"We're talking about Michael Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis – that's the rarefied air that Denzel Washington breathes in," added Lee onstage at the Dolby Theatre.
At the gala, Washington joined the ranks of stars like Morgan Freeman, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg, who have past been honored with AFI's most prestigious award.
This year's ceremony saw Julia Roberts recalling their "Pelican Brief" days, Jennifer Hudson belting out a Sam Cooke classic, Beyonce surprising the audience and Chadwick Boseman declaring there would be no "Black Panther" without Washington's trailblazing.
Here's a sampling of the best moments of the night.
Hudson took the stage to sing a rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," and her soulful performance earned a standing ovation from Washington. "Wow," he said, rising to his feet, as the room followed.
"I met Denzel Washington over half my life ago, while we made 'The Pelican Brief,' " she said. "Working with Denzel, I have never seen anything like it, honestly. It was like working, as I would imagine, with The Beatles. People screaming, women fainting in the street...but what I remember so well was meeting (your wife) Pauletta and your kids and seeing how you valued your family, your home life above all else...and now I live my life with those same values. The two of you inspired me then, and continue to inspire me today."
After perfectly mimicking Washington's laugh, Foxx shared a personal story. "I've had Denzel to my house. I like saying that because not a lot of people get a chance to do that," he laughed. "He sat at the table, and he talked to all of the young actors who were coming up, and all the young actresses...That night he talked to all of us, and he made us all feel like absolutely we could do it. Thank you for taking that night out to help some people grow, man."
In a move that surprised everyone, Beyonce stepped out on the stage before the official ceremony began, honoring her longtime collaborator, "Formation" director Melina Matsoukas, with AFI's Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. "After over a decade of collaborating, we've become family," said Beyonce, praising Matsoukas (who has since helmed episodes of "Insecure" and "Master of None") for being "boldly unapologetic" in her work.
"There is no 'Black Panther' without Denzel Washington," said Boseman, explaining how he was once granted a scholarship to attend a summer acting program at the University of Oxford – which he found out later was funded by the Oscar winner. "And not just because of me," he added. "My whole cast, that generation stands on your shoulders."
Before urging the hundreds gathered to give his wife a standing ovation, Washington called Pauletta, "the most important person in my life. Forty Years. Forty years of sacrifice. Forty years of forgiveness. She taught me about faith, spirituality. Real love. Unwavering love, in spite of my self. I would not be alive without Pauletta Washington."
"My mother, she's 95 years old now. She's something else," he grinned. "Everything ends in 'because I'm your mother, that's why. Shut up.' Still! The other day!"
The televised special, "AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Denzel Washington," will air on TNT on June 20, at 10 PM ET/PT.
