Courtesy of BETThe 2017 BET Awards kick off this Sunday from L.A.’s Microsoft Theater, a ton of A-list talent is expected to perform and present trophies, including Mary J. Blige, DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, Migos and Future.
One of the honorees, Johnny Gill, along with his New Edition bandmates, will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which he says he just can’t believe.
“All the guys are truly excited that we’ve done this 34 years and to finally be acknowledged for the long history of work that we’ve been putting in…no words can explain or describe this,” he says.
“This whole year has just been insane.”
Insane sounds about right, as New Edition, who first burst onto the scene in 1983 with their debut album Candy Girl, experienced a whole new resurgence in popularity thanks to the release of their super-successful BET biopic, The New Edition Story.
Gill says of the biopic, “We were beyond surprised, because we had a feeling it would do well. But we just didn’t have an idea it would do what it did. Almost 30 million viewers. Unbelievable.”
The host of the BET Awards is SNL’s Leslie Jones, who predicts that the gala will be “crazy,” is “looking forward to seeing” and meeting New Edition herself on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all of the performers, actually, that they have on there,” she says.
As for the nominees, Beyoncé goes into the awards with the most nods: seven in all. Bruno Mars has five nods, followed by Solange, Chance the Rapper and Migos, who each have four.
In addition, Chance the Rapper will receive the Humanitarian Award.
Tune in to find out who wins at the BET Awards, live this Sunday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET on BET.
Here’s a complete list of nominees:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Kehlani
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna
Solange
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Trey Songz
Usher
Best Group
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
A Tribe Called Quest
Fat Joe & Remy Ma
Migos
Rae Sremmurd
Best Collaboration
Beyoncé Ft. Kendrick Lamar — “Freedom”
Chance The Rapper Ft. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne — “No Problem”
Chris Brown Ft. Gucci Mane & Usher — “Party”
Dj Khaled Ft. Beyoncé & Jay Z — “Shining”
Migos Ft. Lil Uzi Vert — “Bad and Boujee”
Rae Sremmurd Ft. Gucci Mane — “Black Beatles”
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Big Sean
Chance The Rapper
Drake
Future
Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Cardi B
Missy Elliott
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Young M.A.
Video of the Year
Beyoncé — “Sorry”
Big Sean — “Bounce Back”
Bruno Mars — “24k Magic”
Migos Ft. Lil Uzi Vert — “Bad And Boujee”
Solange — “Cranes in the Sky”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom — Kehlani. “Crzy”
Bruno Mars & Jonathan Lia — Bruno Mars. “That’s What I Like”
Director X — Zayn Malik. “Like I Would”
Hype Williams — Tyga. “Gucci Snakes Ft. Desiigner”
Kahlil Joseph & Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. — Beyoncé “Sorry”
Best New Artist
21 Savage
Cardi B
Chance The Rapper
Khalid
Young M.A.
Album of the Year
24k Magic — Bruno Mars
4 Your Eyez Only — J. Cole
A Seat at the Table — Solange
Coloring Book — Chance The Rapper
Lemonade — Beyoncé
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Cece Winans — “Never Have to Be Alone”
Fantasia Ft. Tye Tribbett –” I Made It”
Kirk Franklin Ft. Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs & Tamela Mann — “My World Needs You”
Lecrae — “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination) “
Tamela Mann — “God Provides”
Best Actress
Gabrielle Union
Issa Rae
Janelle Monáe
Taraji P. Henson
Viola Davis
Best Actor
Bryshere Y. Gray
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Mahershala Ali
Omari Hardwick
Youngstars Award
Ace Hunter
Caleb Mclaughlin
Jaden Smith
Marsai Martin
Yara Shahidi
Best Movie
Fences
Get Out
Hidden Figures
Moonlight
The Birth of a Nation
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Gabby Douglas
Serena Williams
Simone Biles
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams
Sportsman of the Year Award
Cam Newton
Lebron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
Russell Westbrook
Stephen Curry
Centric Award
Fantasia — “Sleeping with the One I Love”
Kehlani — “Distraction”
Mary J. Blige — “Thick of It”
Solange — “Cranes in the Sky”
Syd — “All About Me”
Yuna — “Crush Ft. Usher”
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
Beyoncé — “Sorry”
Bruno Mars — “24k Magic”
Drake — “Fake Love”
Migos Ft. Lil Uzi Vert — “Bad And Boujee”
Rae Sremmurd Ft. Gucci Mane –” Black Beatles”
The Weeknd Ft. Daft Punk — “Starboy”
Best International Act: Europe
Booba (France)
Mhd (France)
Craig David (UK)
Emeli Sandé (UK)
Giggs (UK)
Skepta (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Wiley (UK)
Best International Act: Africa
Aka (South Africa)
Babes Wodumo (South Africa)
Davido (Nigeria)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Tekno (Nigeria)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Mr Eazi (Nigeria)
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
