LOS ANGELES (BET /Black Entertainment Television) - BET's annual mega-salute to superlative performances in music, sports and entertainment again lit up the Hollywood skyline and the majestic Kodak Theatre, with rapper/producer impresario
Kanye West grabbing awards for Best Male Hip Hop artist and for Video of the Year for his spiritual composition "Jesus Walks."
First-time BET Awards nominees
Ciara and
John Legend each walked away with trophies, as
Ciara won for Best Collaboration for her tandem with rapper
Missy Elliott on "1, 2 Step," and Legend scored as Best Male New Artist. BET also used the star-studded night to honor music legend Gladys Knight with the network's Lifetime Achievement Award, and Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta with the BET Humanitarian Award.
BET's big night exploded with amazing performances and special salutes as Hollywood power couple Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith served as hosts for the first time. Bringing the audience to their feet, a surprise reunion of Lauren Hill and the Fugees started the night off with a killer performance of their old school hits Ready or Not, and Killing Me Softly.
Other superstar performers included living legend Stevie Wonder, smoking hot "Dirty South" rapper T.I. along with Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, former B2K phenom Omarion, Mike Jones, Fantasia, Tye Tribbett and The Game joining in an "off the meter" throw-down that rocked the house and the homes of millions fortunate enough to have tuned in for BET's biggest show of the year. A sparkling list of Hollywood's celebrity A-List also joined the show as presenters, including Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, Alicia Keys, Steve Harvey and Mario.
The night also had some solemn moments as BET paid memorial tributes to actor Ossie Davis, attorney Johnnie Cochran, singer Rick James and rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, all of whom died since last's BET AWARDS show.
The following is a list of all winners from the 2005 BET AWARDS:
Best Female R&B: Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B: Usher
Best Group Destiny's Child
Best Collaboration: Ciara featuring Missy Elliott (1, 2 Step)
Best Female Hip Hop: Remy Martin
Best Male Hip Hop: Kanye West
Best New Artist: John Legend
Best Gospel Artist: Donnie McClurkin
Best Actress: Regina King
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx
Female Athlete of the Year: Serena Williams (Tennis)
Male Athlete of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal (Basketball)
Video of the Year: Kanye West (Jesus Walks)
Viewers' Choice Award: Omarion (O)
