2012 BET HONORS (PHOTOS)

T he BET Honors, were held Saturday evening at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC. Hosted by Gabrielle Union for the fifth consecutive year, the BET Honors recognized Black-Americans of excellence in the categories of entertainment (Mariah Carey), musical arts (Stevie Wonder), media (Spike Lee), literary arts (Maya Angelou), education (Beverly Kearney), and service (The Tuskegee Airmen). The politics-meets-glamour event brought out stars as well as political figures including: Collin Powell, Jesse Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Common, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and many others. Photos, after the click:

Mariah Carey, tearfully accepted the entertainer award from her husband Nick Cannon and their infant son Moroccan Scott. The tyke’s twin sister Monroe remained backstage for a good reason, Mariah revealed: “We were both sewn into our dresses, so she couldn’t make it out,” she joked. Nick added, “She’s heavy. She’s a diva like her mama.” Patti Labelle demolished the theatre with a rendition of Mariah’s hit Hero, while Kelly Rowland and rapper Raekwon performed a version of Fantasy.

Adding to the prestige of the evening was an appearance by First Lady Michelle Obama who along with Willow Smith, Queen Latifah and Cicely Tyson presented Maya Angelou with the literary arts award. Michelle, showing off her fit physique in a crimson one-shoulder dress, called the poet “an iconic, almost otherworldly figure” who “lifts us out of our everyday lives and makes us think we can do anything.”
The BET Honors airs Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BET.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

See pictures from the 2012 BET HONORS PRE-HONORS DINNER