# The BET Honors

The BET Honors were established in 2008 by the Black Entertainment Television network to respect the lives and achievements of African-American luminaries. The awards will be presented annually and broadcast on BET during Black History Month.

## Ceremony Location

The inaugural ceremonies, in 2008, were held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

## Hosts

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer hosted the first BET Honors in 2008.
Actress Gabrielle Union has hosted the BET Honors consecutively for the past five years

## 2008
### Honorees

* Alicia Keys (Entertainment Award)
* Tyra Banks (Media Award)
* Dr. Cornel West, University Professor in the Center for African American Studies (Award for Education)
* Richard Parsons (Corporate Citizen Award)
* The Honorable Maxine Waters (Public Service Award)
* CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd (Entrepreneur Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Stevie Wonder
* John Legend
* Gladys Knight
* Wyclef Jean
* Jill Scott
* Brian McKnight
* Ne-Yo
* Raheem DeVaughn
* Blair Underwood
* Danny Glover
* Kerry Washington
* Idris Elba
* Hill Harper
* Vivica A. Fox

## 2009
### Honorees

* Magic Johnson (Corporate Citizen Award)
* Tyler Perry (Media Award)
* B. Smith (Entrepreneur Award)
* Mary J. Blige (Entertainer Award)
* Judith Jamison (Education Award)
* James Clyburn (Public Service Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Stevie Wonder
* Yolanda Adams
* Anita Baker
* Monica
* Joss Stone
* Ne-Yo
* Queen Latifah
* Anthony Hamilton
* Keyshia Cole
* Whitney Houston

## 2010
### List of Honorees

* Whitney Houston (Entertainers Award)
* Queen Latifah (Media Award)
* Sean “Diddy” Combs (Entrepreneur Award)
* Ruth Simmons (Education Award)
* Keith Black (Public Service Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Jennifer Hudson
* Mary J. Blige
* India.Arie
* Patti LaBelle
* Stevie Wonder
* Trey Songz
* Jazmine Sullivan
* Kim Burrell

## 2011
### Honorees

* Jamie Foxx (Entertainer)
* Cicely Tyson (Theatrical Arts Award)
* Herbie Hancock (Musical Arts Award)
* Iman (Service Award)
* Lonnie Bunch (Education Award)
* Linda Johnson-Rice (Media Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Ne-Yo
* Nicole Ari Parker
* Boris Kodjoe
* Chick Corea
* Lalah Hathaway
* Keyshia Cole
* Tank & Guy
* Naturally 7
* Trey Songz
* Yolanda Adams
* Marsha Ambrosius

## 2012
### Honorees

* Maya Angelou (Literary Arts Award)
* Stevie Wonder (Musical Arts Award)
* Mariah Carey (Entertainer Award)
* Spike Lee (Media Award)
* Beverly Kearney (Education Award)
* Tuskegee Airmen (Service Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Michelle Obama
* Willow Smith
* Aretha Franklin
* Common
* Cuba Gooding Jr.
* Terrence Howard
* Cicely Tyson
* Kelly Rowland
* Jill Scott
* John Singleton
* Jennifer Hudson
* Ledisi
* Patti LaBelle
* Anthony Hamilton
* Luke James
* Nick Cannon and his son Moroccan Cannon

## 2013
### Honorees

* Halle Berry (Service Award)
* T.D. Jakes (Education Award)
* Chaka Khan (Musical Arts Award)
* Lisa Leslie (Athletics Award)
* Clarence Avant (Entrepreneur Award)

## 2014
### Honorees

* Kenneth Chenault (Corporate Citizen Award)
* Aretha Franklin (Musical Arts Award)
* Carrie Mae Weems (Visual Arts)
* Ice Cube (Entertainer Award)
* Berry Gordy (Entrepreneur Award)
* Nelson Mandela (Leadership Award)

## 2015

Comedian Wayne Brady hosted.

### Honorees

* Kanye West (Visionary Award)
* Usher (Musical Arts Award)
* Phylicia Rashad (Theatrical Arts Award)
* Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole (Education Award)
* Kwame Simmons (Digital Special Recognition)
* John W. Thompson (Technology and Business Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Ne-Yo
* Trey Songz
* Ben Vareen
* K. Michelle
* Dame Dash
* Patti LaBelle
* Mary J. Blige
* Bobby Brown
* Charlie Wilson
* Glynn Turman
* Diahann Carroll
* Anthony Anderson

## 2016

Comedian Arsenio Hall hosted the final ceremony.

### Honorees

* Lee Daniels (The BET Honors Television and Film Award)
* Patti LaBelle (Musical Arts Award)
* LA Reid (Business Entertainment Award)
* Eric Holder (Public Service Award)
* Mellody Hobson (Corporate Citizen Award)

### Performers and Presenters

* Usher
* Ledisi
* Monica
* Babyface
* Fantasia
* The Deele
* Eddie Levert
* Toni Braxton
* Jussie Smollett
* Jazmine Sullivan
* Gabourey Sidibe
* Terrence Howard
* Raheem DeVaughn