For the second year running, the BET Awards made downtown Los Angeles their home, staging the genre-spanning celebration of Black music, film and culture on Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live.
A new host
This year's show was led by Druski, the comedian and internet-bred entertainer who built a following through viral characters before crossing fully into the mainstream. BET has billed him as the youngest host in the ceremony's history, Complex reported. The broadcast aired live on BET starting at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
The night's icons
Much of the evening's weight rested on its honorees. Ms. Lauryn Hill — whose The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the most acclaimed albums in popular music — was set to receive the Living Legend Icon Award. Teyana Taylor, the Harlem-born singer, actress and director, was named Icon of the Year, and the veteran record executive Sylvia Rhone, who has shaped careers across five decades at major labels, was honored with the Ultimate Icon Award, according to BET.
A crowded field
Cardi B led all nominees heading into the night, the Hollywood Reporter noted, with Kendrick Lamar and Mariah the Scientist close behind across the major music categories. Because winners were still being announced live as the telecast aired, the Herald is not reporting competitive results until the full list is confirmed; readers can follow the official tally through BET and the Hollywood Reporter's live tracker.
A stage built for range
The performance lineup underscored BET's reach across generations and genres, with names including Cardi B, Nas, Queen Latifah, Rick Ross, Doechii, Ari Lennox and Common among those slated to take the stage, Complex reported. The mix — from hip-hop's elder statesmen to its current chart leaders — fit a show that has long tried to hold the whole timeline of Black popular music in a single night.
The LA angle
The choice of venue keeps one of the calendar's marquee music events anchored in Los Angeles. The Peacock Theater — the L.A. Live venue formerly known as the Nokia and Microsoft theaters — has hosted award shows, concerts and premieres in the heart of downtown for years, and its turn as the BET Awards' home gives the city a recurring stake in a night that draws a national audience.
This is a developing story; winners will be added as results are confirmed.
