2014 BET Honors
Bits and pieces about what to expect on the 2014 BET Honors were teased, because it was filmed several weeks ago in Washington, DC, but the wait is now over. Wayne Brady was the host, and the performances on the sixth annual BET Honors broadcast were excellent.
He called out several people in the audience; Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, Ice Cube and more as he started the show. He then tried to prove that he’s sexy, and asked the audience if they wanted to see sexy? He then said he could “break it down a little bit.”
He pulled his suit off to reveal a leather, short sleeved, body-hugging suit and began a hip hop dance with two male dances to a rendition of Pony by Ginuwine. At one point they poured baby oil over themselves. They were really working hard for that sexy thing.
Actor Joe Morton, who plays Olivia Pope’s father on Scandal took the stage to introduce power businessman Kenneth I. Chenault. He is CEO and Chairman of American Express and has been since 2001, and he is only the third African-American CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The BET Honors Award for Corporate Citizen was presented to Kenneth Chenault.
He thanked those who have gone before him and said, “I will never forget that I stand on their shoulders.”
Tamar Braxton took the stage as they started the celebration to honor Berry Gordy. She sang Diana Ross’ Do You Know and a medley of Motown music.
Actor and rapper, Ludicarus then introduced the next honoree – Ice Cube. BET highlighted his career; from rapper to actor to movie mogul. Ice Cube received the BET Honors Entertainer Award. He was truly honored, and he got a little choked up speaking about his journey, his children and thanking his wife Kimberly. He ends by saying, “thanks for watching me paint for so long.”
Next came Smokey Robinson. Wayne Brady was so excited that he came up behind Smokey and took a selfie with him.
Smokey was there to continue the tribute to Berry Gordy. The video tribute highlighted his impact on Detroit, artists, and music itself.
Smokey then introduced Janelle Monáe to perform more Motown hits starting with, I Want You Back and several other Jackson hits.
The next performance was one of the highlights of the broadcast; Smokey Robinson performing his classic, “Tracks of My Tears.” He received a very long standing ovation.
Smokey called Gordy his best friend and said he loved him so much as he sang an original tune he wrote specifically for Berry Gordy. The song brought Berry Gordy to tears.
Berry Gordy, the artist, entrepreneur and music mogul was honored to receive the BET Visionary Award from his best friend Smokey Robinson.
He began his acceptance speech by thanking Debra Lee, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET and ended by saying, “Motown was a fairytale that just happened to come true.”
Wayne Brady came back and told Ice Cube that they could have the same kind of bromance that Smokey and Berry Gordy have and said, “that could be us. Think about it.”
Anthony Anderson introduced the segment honoring renown artist Carrie Mae Weems. Ms. Weems took the stage to accept the BET Honors Award for Visual Arts. She thanked her influences and family and added, “the vast majority of you don’t know who I am. You don’t know my name. You’ve never seen my work.” She continues and thanked BET for bringing her work to light and said, “thank you BET for going beyond the bounds of public culture.”
Mariah Carey began her performance lying on a piano in a barely-there black evening gown. Mariah looked fabulous, but that double-stick tape was working really hard.
The next segment featured a young man talking about health care and the Affordable Health Care Act. He told people to go to healthcare.gov and get covered. Present Obama was said to have personally initiated the push to promote healthcare.gov. on the broadcast by contacting Wayne Brady.
Next, Anthony Anderson came out and told Wayne Brady that he’s going to do the second half of the show. Anthony then challenged Wayne to improvise a rap off the top of his head by taking words from audience members. Wayne took the challenge and improvised a rap to the tune of Drake song, Started From the Bottom.
Al Sharpton was the next presenter. He announced the tribute to Aretha Franklin. He said, “Aretha you are the truth.”
Her Honors video highlighted her astounding career. She said she will always sing, and she is not going to sit down and retire, “that’s not me.”
Karen Clark Sheard took over the musical performance for Aretha’s tribute and brought the house to their feet and Aretha near tears.
Aretha’s son came out and performed a rap for his mother, followed by his daughter, Aretha’s granddaughter Victory Franklin.
The tribute to Aretha continued with Jennifer Hudson singing Rock Steady, Respect, and several other Aretha Franklin classics saying, “Ms. Arthea we love you so much.”
Jennifer killed it.
Al Sharpton returned to ask Aretha Franklin to please accept the BET Honors Award for Music Arts. Her acceptance speech was short, but she thanked BET for the exposure over the years.
BET denounced racism in the next segment honoring Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was called Madiba. Each participant in the video held up a sign that read “I Am Madiba.”
The show didn’t end before Aretha Franklin sang as Mandela images flashed behind her. The combination was very moving, and there is no voice like Arthea Franklin.
Wayne Brady then called on the children of Mandela to come to the stage and accept the BET Champion of Humanity Award in honor of their father and his legacy.
The broadcast ended with all honorees hand-in-hand on the stage.
Congratulations BET, the 2014 BET Honors broadcast was a home-run.
Tanya Hart
www.aurn.com
