If there's one awards show out there that will have people glued to their TV screens, it's definitely the BET Awards. And Sunday's night show proved to be a spectacular one.
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Starting the night off was a surprise opening performance by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar with the duo performing Beyoncé's "Freedom," all while dancing in a pool of water. Can you say cleanup in aisle 5? It was obvious that shortly after the performance, Beyoncé bounced to head to London, and her mother, Tina Knowles, accepted her award for Video of the Year and the fan-voted Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award.
But let's face it. The only reason so many eyes were on the BET Awards was because of its much-talked-about Prince tribute, and it was definitely worth watching.
Sheila E. appropriately closed the show with her tribute, which included "Let's Work," ''A Love Bizarre," ''The Glamorous Life" and "America." She was also joined onstage by Purple Rain actor Jerome Benton and Prince's ex-wife, Mayte Garcia.
Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder and Tori Kelly sang "Purple Rain," while a photo montage of Prince played in the background.
Janelle Monáe, who was mentored by Prince, performed "Kiss," ''Delirious" and "I Would Die 4 U."
Then there was Bilal's soulful performance of "The Beautiful Ones" as the Roots backed him. The Roots also backed Erykah Badu during her performance of "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker."
All in all, the BET Awards not only provided entertainment, as it usually does, but also political commentary, by way of actors Jesse Williams and Taraji P. Henson.
Henson urged attendees to make the right choice when voting.
"I'm really not political, but it's serious out here, and for those who think that, you know, 'Oh he's not going to win'—think again. So we really need to pull together and turn this country around," she said.
Below is a full list of Sunday night's winners and nominees:
Best Female R&B/Pop ArtistBeyoncé (winner)AdeleAndra DayK. MichelleRihanna
Best Male R&B/Pop ArtistBryson Tiller (winner)Chris BrownJeremihThe WeekndTyrese
Best GroupDrake & Future (winner)2 Chainz & Lil WaynePuff Daddy & the FamilyRae SremmurdThe Internet
Best CollaborationRihanna ft. Drake—"Work" (winner)Big Sean ft. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign—"Play No Games"Big Sean ft. Kanye West & John Legend—"One Man Can Change the World"Future ft. Drake—"Where Ya At"Nicki Minaj ft. Beyonce—"Feeling Myself"
Best Male Hip-Hop ArtistDrake (winner)Fetty WapFutureJ. ColeKanye WestKendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-Hop ArtistNicki Minaj (winner)Dej LoafLil KimMissy ElliottRemy Ma
Video of the YearBeyoncé—"Formation" (winner)Bryson Tiller—"Don't"Drake—"Hotline Bling"Kendrick Lamar—"Alright"Rihanna ft. Drake—"Work"
Video Director of the YearDirector X (winner)Benny BoomChris BrownColin Tilley and the Little HomiesHype Williams
Best New ArtistBryson Tiller (winner)Alessia CaraAndra DayKehlaniTory Lanez
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational AwardKirk Franklin (winner)Anthony Brown & Group TherapyErica CampbellLecraeTamela MannTasha Cobbs
Best ActressTaraji P. Henson (winner)Gabrielle UnionKerry WashingtonTracee Ellis RossViola Davis
Best ActorMichael B. Jordan (winner)Anthony AndersonCourtney B. VanceIdris ElbaO'Shea Jackson Jr.
YoungStars AwardAmandla Stenberg (winner)Quvenzhané WallisSilentóWillow SmithYara Shahidi
Best MovieStraight Outta Compton (winner)Beasts of No NationConcussionCreedDope
Sportswoman of the YearSerena Williams (winner)Cheyenne WoodsGabrielle DouglasSkylar DigginsVenus Williams
Sportsman of the YearStephen Curry (winner)Cam NewtonKobe BryantLeBron JamesOdell Beckham Jr.
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice AwardBeyoncé—"Formation" (winner)Bryson Tiller—"Don't"Chris Brown—"Back to Sleep"Drake—"Hotline Bling"Future ft. Drake—"Where Ya At"Rihanna ft. Drake—"Work"
Centric AwardBeyoncé—"Formation" (winner)Andra Day—"Rise Up"K. Michelle—"Not a Little Bit"Rihanna—"BBHMM"The Internet—"Under Control"
Best International Act: AfricaWizkid (Nigeria) (winner)AKA (South Africa)Black Coffee (South Africa)Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)Mzvee (Ghana)Serge Beynaud (Cote D'Ivoire)Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best International Act: U.K.Skepta (winner)KanoKrept & KonanLianne La HavasStormzyTinie Tempah
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