Mayte Garcia Joined Sheila E For A Prince Tribute Dance Party At the BET Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 26: Recording artist Sheila E. (center L, holding guitar) performs onstage during the 2016 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images for BET)

By Elizabeth Black

June 27, 2016 / 10:18 AM

In a season of Prince tributes, Sheila E's performance at last night's BET Awards might have been the most personal and sentimental of them all. Joined onstage by Prince's ex-wife, Mayte Garcia, who choreographed for him and danced with him for years before and after they wed, they brought America to their feet (and to tears) in a display of pure showmanship. Prince loved a lot of women in his life, and this tribute is a testament to the fact that they really loved him back. Mayte, we need to see you onstage more often, girl!

Gia was in the audience tonight ... She loved it. Pic of my friends @nandymcclean and @mayamcclean and @thestyleguyla about to hit the carpet

A photo posted by Mayte Garcia (@maytejannell) on Jun 26, 2016 at 11:47pm PDT

Eternal love. Thank you @sheilaedrummer for putting this together and asking me to be a part of it. There is nobody else I would of done this tribute with !! And the whole group. The love was so strong on stage. I'm overwhelmed with emotions!! #gratefulbutsad @therealshelbyj @nandymcclean @mayamcclean @livwarfield @elisafiorillo1 and the rest I don't have their IG names

A photo posted by Mayte Garcia (@maytejannell) on Jun 26, 2016 at 9:51pm PDT