Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2006 when hip-hop DJ Beverly Bond founded Black Girls Rock, Inc., this event has honored Black women in the fields of business, politics, entertainment, sports and community service. With a fresh mix of heartfelt performances, tributes and special awards, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! highlights defining moments and empowering stories of excellence from women of color from a broad spectrum of diverse missions and professional backgrounds. The first annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, honoring MC Lyte, was held on October 16, 2006 at The powerHouse Arena (37 Main Street, Brooklyn) during VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week 2006 and in conjunction with Women in Hip Hop, featuring a panel discussion with a broad range of women whose work had influenced hip hop for the previous three decades. The next two years, women of color were celebrated at The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center for the 2007 and 2008 events, followed by a trip to The New York Times Center, NY for the 2009 program.

In 2010, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! was first televised by BET, the cable channel that continues to broadcast the event a few weeks after the ceremony, and Paradise Theater in Bronx, NY hosted the awards program for two years. The 2012 awards, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King, was taped on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the historic Loews Paradise Theatre in New York City.

In 2013, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! was taped on Saturday, October 26 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ, with BET broadcasting the premiere of the event on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7pm ET/PT. Celebrants are: legendary singer Patti Labelle (Living Legend Award), hip-hop pioneer Queen Latifah (Rock Star Award), esteemed writer and producer Mara Brock Akil (Shot Caller Award), tennis icon and entrepreneur Venus Williams (Star Power Award celebrated by Chevy), community organizer Ameena Matthews (Community Activist Award), ground-breaking ballet dancer Misty Copeland (Young, Gifted & Black Award), and children's rights activist Marian Wright Edelman (Social Humanitarian Award). Plus, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland, Ledisi, Janelle Monae, and Alice Smith will perform, with the following celebrities scheduled to present: BLACK GIRLS ROCK! founder Beverly Bond, Nia Long, Tatyana Ali and La La Anthony, Marsha Ambrosius, and Soledad O'Brien.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King returned to the stage as co-hosts for the fourth time, when the 2015 edition of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! premiered on Easter Sunday, April 5 at 7-9:30pm ET/PT on BET and Centric. The televised primetime special celebrates its fifth year on BET honoring the triumphs of inspirational African-American women who are trailblazers in the areas of art, philanthropy, sports, and community service. This year's honorees include: Jada Pinkett Smith (Star Power Award), Ava DuVernay (Shot Caller Award), Cicely Tyson (Living Legend Award), Erykah Badu (Rock Star Award), Nadia Lopez (Change Agent Award) and Dr. Helene D. Gayle (Social Humanitarian Award). The 2015 event, taped on March 28, 2015 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, featured performance by Ciara, Estelle, Jill Scott, Fantasia, Sheila E, Lalah Hathaway, Cheryl Lynn, Alicia Myers, and Kathy Sledge.

Hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross, BLACK GIRLS ROCK 2016 celebrates its 10th anniversary with an event taped on Friday, April 1 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ and a broadcast premiere on Tuesday, April 5 at 8pm ET/PT on BET and Centric. This year Rihanna receives the Rock Star Award, as the chart topping singer, executive producer, fashion designer, actress, astute business entrepreneur and philanthropist will help illuminate the triumphs of brilliant Black women in an extraordinary night celebrating Black Girl Magic. Rihanna joins producer and writer Shonda Rhimes (Shot Caller Award), R&B legend Gladys Knight (Living Legend Award), The Walking Dead actress and Eclipsed playwright Danai Gurira (Star Power Award), award-winning actress and activist Amandla Stenberg (Young Gifted and Black Award), and Black Lives Matter founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi (Community Change Agent Award) as this year's celebrants.

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2017, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, premiered on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 8-10pm ET/PT on BET and Centric, two weeks after taping at New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Prudential Hall in Newark, NJ, on Saturday, August 5. This year's celebrants are: INSECURE creator, actress, writer and producer Issa Rae (Star Power Award); actress and activist Yara Shahidi (Young Gifted and Black Award); GRAMMY Award-winning songstress Roberta Flack (Living Legend Award); Wall Street powerhouse and pioneer Suzanne Shank (Shot Caller Award); and Community organizers Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson of The Black & Missing Foundation (Community Change Agent Award).

The 2018 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! awards premiered on Sunday, September 9, 2018 from 8-10:30pm ET/PT on BET, with a simulcast on BET Her. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the ceremony was taped on Sunday, August 26 at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center. This year's celebrants include: singer Mary J. Blige (Star Power Award);dancer/choreographer Judith Jamison (Living Legend Award); supermodel and philanthropist Naomi Campbell (Black Girl Magic Award); writer, creator, actress and dedicated LGBTQ advocate Lena Waithe (Shot Caller Award); and founder of the groundbreaking 'Me Too' movement Tarana Burke (Community Change Agent Award). Plus, Janet Jackson received the rock star award, being honored as a "phenomenal woman in music," organizers said.
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Hosted by Niecy Nash, the 2019 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! premiered on Sunday, September 8 at 8pm ET/PT on BET and BET Her, two weeks after being taped on Sunday, August 25 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Prudential Hall in Newark, NJ. This year's celebration featured performances by India.Arie, Common, Erykah Badu, Ari Lennox, Elle Varner, Monica, Kiana Lede, and Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh. Plus, Crystal Waters, Cece Peniston, Robin S., and DJ Cocoa Chanelle collaborate for a special moment. The 2019 celebrants include:

- Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominated actress, director, and producer Angela Bassett (Icon Award)
- Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning actress and director Regina King (Star Power Award)
- GRAMMY-Award? winning singer/songwriter Ciara (Rock Star Award)
- Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated producer and industry trailblazer Debra Martin Chase (Shot Caller Award)
- two-time GRAMMY Award-winning musician H.E.R. (Young Gifted and Black Award)
- activists The Mothers of The Movement Sybrina Fulton, Geneva Reed-Veal, Gwen Carr, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, Maria Hamilton and Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton (Community Change Agent Award)

Celebrity presenters included Brandy, Issa Rae, Rapsody, Niatia 'Lil Mama' Kirkland, Skai Jackson, Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin, Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, and Tamika Mallory. Plus, musical director Kim Burse returned for the ninth year to lead the house band, a phenomenal group of all-female musicians, including Cora Coleman (Drums), Divinity Roxx (Bass), Crystal Vargas (Percussion), Lynette Williams (Keyboard), Ashlee Juno (Guitar), Katty Rodriguez (Saxophone), Lessie Vonner (Trumpet), Arnetta Johnson (Trumpet), Myrish Spell (Trombone), and background vocalists Tiffany Ryan, Ayana George & Latayvia Chery.