Posted by | Ray Cornelius
One of cable’s most watched television specials, BET Honors is back for another year of African-American achievement and this year’s nominees are nothing less than extraordinary. The network announced the five recipients on Thursday.
According to the press release, Aretha Franklin will receive the Musical Arts Award for over four decades of musical excellence. Fame Motown founder, songwriter, producer and filmmaker Berry Gordy will receive the Visionary Award. His current Broadway hit, Motown: The Musical, opened to rave reviews last fall. West Coast rap pioneer and actor Ice Cube will be presented with the Entertainment Award for his work in music, television, and film. Business executive Kenneth Chenault will take home the Corporate Citizen Award for his leadership as Chairman and CEO of American Express. Acclaimed artist and 2013 MacArthur Genius recipient Carrie Mae Weems will pick up the Visual Arts Award for her provocative art which tackles issues of race, sex, gender and class. Her latest work, Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video opens at New York’s Guggenheim Museum on January 24.
As previously reported, this year’s show is hosted by Wayne Brady and will benefit the Women’s Veterans Interactive (WVI), an organization that helps restore as well as provides housing options and support for veterans and their families in need. The show will tape at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. on Saturday, February 8 and will premiere on television on Monday, Feb. 24 at 9p.m. as part of BET’s Black History Month programming.
Congrats once again to all the honorees!
Photo Credit: Broadway.com