Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2008, BET has celebrated the lifetime contributions and exceptional service of individuals to African-American culture in music, literature, media, service, education, athletics and entrepreneurship. The event is held Washington, D.C.'s Warner Theatre and then televised in the middle of February during Black History Month. From 2008-2013, BET HONORS was taped on the Saturday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but the event moved to early February in 2014, late January in 2015 and early March in 2016.
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BET HONORS 2016, hosted by Arsenio Hall, was taped on March 5 and broadcast by BET on Monday, March 14 from 8-10pm ET/PT with a simulcast on Centric. The program honored these inspiring people: Lee Daniels (Television and Film Award), Academy Award nominated filmmaker and creator of the hit television show EMPIRE; Mellody Hobson (Corporate Citizen Award), President of Ariel Investments, one of the largest Urban American owned money management and mutual fund companies in the U.S. and current Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dreamworks Animation; Eric H. Holder Jr. (Public Service Award), the first Urban American United States Attorney General and partner at Covington & Burling, LLP in Washington D.C.; Patti Labelle (Musical Arts Awards), the iconic Grammy Award winning singer whose powerhouse voice has sold over 50 million records worldwide; and L.A. Reid (The Business of Entertainment Award), Chairman & CEO of Epic Records, a three-time Grammy Award winner and prolific music mogul who helped launch some of the biggest music careers and superstars of today. Plus, the night featured performances by Fantasia, Ledisi, The Deele, Babyface, Toni Braxton, Jussie Smollett, Eddie Levert, Jazmine Sullivan, Usher and Raheem DeVaughn. This event was originally schedule to air on Tuesday, February 23, but was delayed after the the ceremony was canceled on Saturday, January 23 because of a snowstorm.