The 'Hottest Ticket on Television' Has Been Announced: The BET AWARDS '08

NEW YORK, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- BET Networks, a unit of Viacom NYSE: VIA NYSE: VIA.B, today announced the nominees, performers and recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian honors for the BET AWARDS '08. The BET AWARDS '08 is raising the stakes and promises to be the "hottest ticket on television" for the eighth year running, as the biggest stars in music, sports and entertainment unite in Los Angeles' historic Shrine Auditorium for a night of explosive LIVE performances on Tuesday, June 24 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. As in years past, the BET AWARDS '08 will continue its landmark tradition of hot performances by some of today's heavy hitters, including Usher, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Lil' Wayne and Nelly. The host, along with additional presenters and performers, will be announced shortly.

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At this year's most hyped event, BET will recognize the achievements of artists, entertainers and athletes in 15 categories. Hip hop R&B singer, songwriter and producer T-Pain tops the line-up with five nominations for his collaborations with Chris Brown, Kanye and Flo Rida, followed by rapper/producer Kanye West who earned three nominations with his successful third album, "Graduation," in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Collaboration and Video of the Year categories.

Among the other multiple nominees are R&B songstress Mary J. Blige for Best Female R&B, as well as Video of the Year for "Just Fine," along with Flo Rida, Alicia Keys and Keyshia Cole.

Those nominated for the second straight year include Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne for Best Male Hip Hop; Mary J. Blige for Best Female R&B; last year's Best Male R&B winner Ne-Yo; Angela Bassett and Chandra Wilson for Best Actress; last year's winner, basketball sensation LeBron James, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and golfing phenomenon Tiger Woods for Male Athlete of the Year; smash hitter and four-time category winner Serena Williams and b-ball superstar Tamika Catchings for Female Athlete of the Year.

In keeping with the history-making track record of the most highly anticipated night in Black entertainment, BET is pulling out all of the stops in naming this year's special honorees. Legendary R&B icon Al Green will be in the house to receive BET's Lifetime Achievement Award. Joining him will be celebrated producer/arranger/composer Quincy Jones, who will be honored with BET's prestigious Humanitarian Award for his outreach to young African-Americans through the Listen Up Foundation, a charity which connects youth with music, technology and culture. In addition, Jones helped launch the We Are the Future project, giving hope to children in poor and conflict-ridden areas.

For the past seven years, the BET AWARDS has boasted unforgettable moments such as Michael Jackson's surprise appearance during James Brown's tribute; Rick James in his final duet with Teena Marie; Will Smith presenting Muhammad Ali with the first-ever Humanitarian Award; Prince onstage backing Chaka Khan; Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams and India.Arie in a powerhouse tribute to Rufus' first lady of funk; Destiny's Child's steamy lap dance; the reunion of one of hip hop's most beloved trios, The Fugees; and last year's touching opening performance with Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Holliday and Public Enemy's tribute to James Brown.

BET has once again teamed with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the seven record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen Hill, BET Executive Vice President, Music and Programming, along with Lynn Harris-Taylor, BET Vice President of Specials, will executive produce the telecast.

BET AWARDS '08 will be sponsored by Dodge, Pepsi, Verizon Wireless, General Motors, P&G, Target, Circo and Ford.

Log onto BET.com for BET On Blast video highlights, photos and continuous BET AWARDS '08 updates at http://www.bet.com/betawards.

                                BET AWARDS '08
                           NOMINEES AND CATEGORIES

    Best Female R&B             Best Male R&B         Best Group

    Mary J. Blige               Chris Brown           Danity Kane
    Mariah Carey                Raheem DeVaughn       Day 26
    Keyshia Cole                J. Holiday            Gnarls Barkley
    Alicia Keys                 Ne-Yo                 Playaz Circle
    Rihanna                     Trey Songz            UGK


    Best Gospel                 Best Female           Best Male
     Artist                      Hip Hop Artist        Hip Hop Artist

    The Clark Sisters           Missy Elliott         Common
    Kirk Franklin               Eve                   Jay-Z
    Deitrick Haddon             Kid Sister            Lil' Wayne
    Marvin Sapp                 Lil Mama              Snoop Dogg
    Trin-I-Tee 5:7              Trina                 Kanye West


    Best New Artist             Best Collaboration

    Estelle                     Chris Brown f/ T-Pain "Kiss Kiss"
    Flo Rida                    Keyshia Cole f/ Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim
    Chrisette Michelle           "Let It Go"
    Soulja Boy Tell'em          Flo Rida f/ T-Pain "Low"
    The Dream                   Kanye West f/ T-Pain "Good Life"
                                DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta
                                 Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil' Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman
                                 and Rick Ross "I'm So Hood (The Remix)"


    Best Video Director         Video of the Year

    Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto  Ashanti "The Way That I Love You"
    Benny Boom                  Erykah Badu "Honey"
    Gil Green                   Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"
    Chris Robinson              Alicia Keys "Like You'll Never See Me Again"
    Hype Williams               UGK f/ Outkast "International Player's Anthem
                                 (I Choose You)"
                                Kanye West f/ T-Pain "Good Life"


    Best Actress                Best Actor            Female Athlete of
                                                       the Year

    Angela Bassett              Anthony Anderson      Tamika Catchings
    Halle Berry                 Don Cheadle           Cheryl Ford
    Queen Latifah               Idris Elba            Candace Parker
    Jill Scott                  Terrence Howard       Serena Williams
    Chandra Wilson              Denzel Washington     Venus Williams


    Male Athlete of the Year    Viewer's Choice Award

    Kobe Bryant                 Chris Brown f/ T-Pain "Kiss Kiss"
    LeBron James                Keyshia Cole f/ Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim
    Floyd Mayweather, Jr.        "Let It Go"
    Chris Paul                  Alicia Keys "No One"
    Tiger Woods                 Lil' Wayne f/ Static "Lollipop"
                                Jordin Sparks f/ Chris Brown "No Air"
                                Soulja Boy Tell'em "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)"