2011 BET Awards Honors Steve Harvey and Patti LaBelle
Columnists, Kim's Kronicles — By Kim Webster on June 30, 2011 at 7:16 am
By Kim Webster
Los Angeles CA – Actor/Comedian Kevin Hart hosted the 2011 BET Awards at the historic Shrine Theatre on Sunday, June 26. The show opened with Mary J Blige singing a medley of her hits. Mary J praised songstress Anita Baker as her inspiration and the duo sung Ms Baker’s hit “Caught Up in the Rapture.” There were many welcome surprises during the evening including the cast from the Five Heartbeats – Robert Townsend, Leon, Tico Wells, Michael Wright and Harry J. Lennix. Presenters Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal performed their hit “Saturday Love” and Jill Scott performed with actor Idris Elba. A very emotional Patti LaBelle was presented the BET Lifetime Achievement Award by her friend Gladys Knight. “I just want people to say Steve Harvey shared and cared,” said BET Humanitarian Award Winner Steve Harvey, when referring to his commitment to helping people. A heartfelt “in memoriam” tribute performance was given to Teena Marie, Gil Scott-Heron, Clarence Clemons, Nate Dogg, and M Bone.
Special recognition was given to Deidra Sanders for her Grass Roots Project regarding HIV Awareness lectures to young people in Washington DC; and Howard Gentry for his Young Blacks in Action Inc program for children in Orlando FL. Check your local broadcast listing for encore showings of the 2011 BET Awards.
BET Award Winners: Best Female R&B Artist – Rihanna; Best Male R&B Artist – Chris Brown; Best Group – Diddy-Dirty Money; Best Collaboration – Chris Brown f/Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes for “Look at Me Now”; Best Male Hip Hop Artist – Kanye West; Best Female Hip Hop Artist Nicki Minaj; Video of the Year – Chris Brown f/Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes for “Look at Me Now”; Best New Artist – Wiz Khalifa; Best Gospel – Mary Mary; Best Actress – Taraji P. Henson; Best Actor – Idris Elba; YoungStars Award – Jaden & Willow Smith; Best Movie – “For Colored Girls”; Subway Sportswoman & Sportsman of the Year Serena Williams & Michael Vick; Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award – Chris Brown f/Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes for “Look at Me Now”; Centric Award – Marsha Ambrosius; Best International Act/Africa – 2Face Idibia (Nigeria); Best International Act/UK – Tinie Tempah.