WHEN: Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 8PM ET WHERE: Televised live from Los Angeles on BET
There will be another special presentation of the BET Awards on June 25th this year airing on BET live from Los Angeles at 8PM ET/PT.
New this year? The 2023 BET Awards will celebrate five decades of hip hop throughout the live telecast with special guests and presenters yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, watch for the complete list of 2023 BET Award nominations in early June, plus more updates including who will host, featured performances, and the announcement of big winners on awards night!
2022 BET Awards rewind
On awards night, Taraji P. Henson returned to host the BET Awards for the second year in a row.
2022 BET Award nominees (also see WINNERS, below) had Doja Cat leading with 6 nods followed by Ari Lennox and Drake both with 4.
Doja Cat, Drake, and Ari Lennox lead the pack at the 2022 BET Awards airing on June 26.
Coming in with three nominations each were Baby Keem, Silk Sonic, Chlöe, Future, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Ye (Kanye West), Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Mary J. Blige and Tems.
In the movie categories, actor Forest Whitaker was on the best actor nominee list for both "Respect" and "Godfather of Harlem" while Zendaya was honored with a nod for both "Euphoria" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" as best actress.
Announced earlier was the winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, legendary rapper and record producer Sean “Diddy” Combs, who joined a long list of performers on awards night including Lizzo, Chance the Rapper, Babyface, Latto, Jack Harlow, Chlöe, Doechii, Ella Mai, Fireboy DML, Giveon, Joey Bada$$, Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Muni Long, and Roddy Ricch.
Presenters on the big night included Idris Elba, Ne-Yo, Big Freeda, Janelle Monáe, Bleu, Carl Anthony Payne II, Crystal Hayslett, Daniel Kaluuya, Eboni Obsidian, Eva Marcille, Marsai Martin, Mignon, Nene Leakes, Novi Brown, Ray J, Sanaa Lathan, Serayah, Tamar Braxton, Terrence J, Tisha Campbell, Will Packer, Irv Gotti, Keke Palmer, KJ Smith and Luke James,
Just up ahead, check out all the nominees and big winners at the 21st annual BET Awards, along with related resources and fun facts about the biggest night in black entertainment ....
DID YOU KNOW? BET Awards fun facts
Record wins at the BET Awards.
• With an average 7 million viewers, the BET Awards remain the highest rated awards shows on cable television.
• The most nominated artist at the BET Awards is Beyoncé with 62 nominations (56 solo and 8 with Destiny's Child). She also leads in wins with a total of 28. Chris Brown follows with 39 nominations and 16 wins.
• Hip hop artists OutKast took home the first-ever BET award trophy during the first BET Awards ceremony on June 19, 2001. OutKast also won Video of the Year that night for "Ms Jackson".
• Following the passing of Michael Jackson, the BET Awards scrambled to revamp the ceremony. Within three days of its airing on June 28, 2009 the ceremony became a tribute to the fallen star as routines were hurriedly changed to include Jackson's greatest hits.
• The only BET Ultimate Icon Award to date was awarded to Janet Jackson in 2015, which recognized her as a game changer in the fields of music, dance and video performances.
Sean Cosgrave is a frequent editorial contributor to Chiff.com.
2022 BET Awards Nominees & WINNERS
Album of the year
An Evening With Silk Sonic, Silk Sonic - WINNER Back of My Mind, H.E.R. Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator Certified Lover Boy, Drake Donda, Kanye West Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Jazmine Sullivan Planet Her, Doja Cat
Best female R&B / pop artist
Ari Lennox
Chlöe
Doja Cat
H.E.R. Jazmine Sullivan - WINNER
Mary J. Blige
Summer Walker
Best male R&B / pop artist
Blxst
Chris Brown
Givēon
Lucky Daye The Weeknd - WINNER
Wizkid
Yung Bleu
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kanye West Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
Lil Baby
Best group
Silk Sonic - WINNER
Chlöe X Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby & Lil Durk
Migos
Young Dolph & Key Glock
Best collaboration
“Essence,” Wizkid Feat. Justin Bieber & Tems - WINNER
“Every Chance I Get,” DJ Khaled Feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Feat. SZA
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake Feat. Future & Young Thug
“Whole Lotta Money” (Remix), Bia Feat. Nicki Minaj
Best new artist
Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher Latto - WINNER
Muni Long
Tems
Yung Bleu
Video of the year
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Feat. SZA
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox “Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic - WINNER
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake Feat. Future & Young Thug
Video director of the year
Anderson .Paak a.k.a. Director .Paak - WINNER
Benny Boom
Beyoncé & Dikayl Rimmasch
Director X
Hype Williams
Missy Elliott
Best gospel/inspirational
“All in Your Hands,” Marvin Sapp
“Come to Life,” Kanye West
Grace. Kelly Price
Hallelujah. Fred Hammond
Hold Us Together (Hope Mix), H.E.R. & Tauren Wells
Jireh, Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music We Win, Lil Baby X Kirk Franklin - WINNER
BET Her
“Best of Me (Originals),” Alicia Keys “Good Morning Gorgeous,” Mary J. Blige - WINNER
“Have Mercy,” Chlöe
“Pressure,” Ari Lennox
“Roster,” Jazmine Sullivan
“Unloyal,” Summer Walker & Ari Lennox
“Woman,” Doja Cat
Best international act
Dave (U.K.)
Dinos (France)
Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Fireboy Dml (Nigeria)
Little Simz (U.K.)
Ludmilla (Brazil)
Major League Djz (South Africa)
Tayc (France) Tems (Nigeria) - WINNER
Best movie
Candyman King Richard - WINNER
Respect
Space Jam: A New Legacy
Summer of Soul
The Harder They Fall
Best actor
Adrian Holmes, Bel Air Anthony Anderson, Black-Ish Damson Idris, Snowfall Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth Forest Whitaker, Respect | Godfather of Harlem Jabari Banks, Bel Air Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us Will Smith, King Richard - WINNER
Best actress
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard Coco Jones, Bel Air Issa Rae, Insecure Jennifer Hudson, Respect Mary J. Blige, Power Book II: Ghost Queen Latifah, The Equalizer Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Regina King, The Harder They Fall Zendaya, Euphoria | Spider-Man: No Way Home - WINNER
YoungStars award
Akira Akbar
Demi Singleton Marsai Martin - WINNER
Miles Brown
Saniyya Sidney
Storm Reid
