Articles from BET Networks

BET goes back to school to revive the nostalgic reality series “COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION.” In the reimagined new season, celebrities will live together and join the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Texas Southern University as students. Nene Leakes, Ray J, Lamar Odom, Big Freedia, Stacey Dash, DreamDoll, India Love, and Slim Thug will head back to class to expand their educational horizons. Premiering Summer 2022, the 8-episode series will explore college life through a celebrity lens while showcasing the unique cultural and academic experience of HBCUs. Despite their respective fame and notoriety, each cast member is committed to focusing on their higher education as a personal challenge to prove it’s never too late. Enrolled alongside current Texas Southern University students, the cast will work towards completing a specialty certificate program to cross the graduation stage. Though to triumph, like any ordinary college student, they must complete their course work along with required internships, extra credit opportunities, group projects, and more. Who will take the lead on group projects? Who will pull an all-nighter?

This year, the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” presented by BET, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Soul Train television show legacy, marking the milestone with a star-studded event showcasing today’s reigning R&B/Soul artists. For the very first time, the “Soul Train Awards” took place at the World Famous Apollo in Harlem, NYC and dynamic best-friend duo Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold returned as co-hosts of this year’s awards, which premiered on Sunday, November 28 on BET, BET Her, MTV2 and VH1. Adding to the excitement, BET also held the first-ever “Soul Train Awards Weekend,” a three-day multiplatform celebration, that featured several events including the ‘Leading With Soul Luncheon,’ ‘Soul Surprises,’ and the formation of a Guinness World Record-breaking Soul Train line. The Network also continued its investment in community recovery and wellness with its distribution of $100,000 in microgrants to ten Harlem Businesses and non-profits and helping feed the Harlem community at two local community-based organizations. Watch an encore airing of the 2021 “Soul Train Awards,” Tuesday, November 30 at 5:30 PM ET/PT on BET. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” will air internationally on BET France on December 1, at 10:30 PM CET. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand, in the UK, beginning December 3.

The hottest party of the year, the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” presented by BET, will showcase an even bigger lineup of performances, special moments, and appearances by some of the biggest stars in R&B, Gospel, Urban Adult Contemporary and Soul. Hosted by dynamic best-friend duo Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold from the World Famous Apollo in Harlem, NYC, the annual telecast will also celebrate 50 years of the Soul Train legacy. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” presented by BET premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET, BET Her, MTV2, and VH1. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” will simulcast internationally on BET Africa at 2 AM CAT on November 29 and air on BET France on December 1, at 10:30 PM CET. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand, in the UK, beginning December 3.

BET Studios, in partnership with Rich Paul and KLUTCH Sports Group, present a new original documentary series, “KLUTCH Academy” – a five-part unscripted series to be executive produced by Paul and his KLUTCH Originals banner, Kenya Barris, and the creative team behind the award-winning docuseries The Last Dance, Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach. “KLUTCH Academy” documents KLUTCH Sports Group—led by CEO Rich Paul— as they prepare six college basketball prospects for pro careers. These talented athletes possess the potential to be stars in the league but will need to work through areas of improvement on and off the court to achieve success and one day reach superstardom. Each one-hour episode will candidly reveal what players and agents experience in the process leading up to the Draft—and showcase that KLUTCH is more than an agency…it’s a tightknit group dedicated to developing young men for life in the NBA and beyond. “KLUTCH Academy” premieres November 23 at 11pm ET/10c on BET.

Today, BET announced three-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Maxwell will receive the ‘Legend’ award at the 2021 “Soul Train Awards”. Award-winning and multiplatinum singer/songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and author Ashanti will be the recipient of the ‘Lady of Soul’ honor. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her.

Today, BET announces a new partnership with ROCK THE BELLS, the global lifestyle brand and preeminent voice for classic and timeless hip hop, founded by LL COOL J to debut a brand new award at the 2021 BET HIP HOP AWARDS. The “ROCK THE BELLS CULTURAL INFLUENCE AWARD” honors the massive cultural impact hip hop artistry has on popular culture, bridging the gap between all generations of hip hop lovers.

BET and BET + unveil their 2021 Fall programming line-ups. The star-studded slate is bursting at the seams with hot new original series, returning hits, mind-blowing mega-specials, fun original movies, and more! On the heels of a successful summer programming season, BET keeps the momentum going with over 25 program premieres planned throughout the Fall as the Network continues its reign as the #1 network for African American households and BET+ as the leading streaming service for the Black community. BET’s diverse slate will reflect and celebrate Black culture like no other brand can.

Today BET announces DOUBLE DIAMOND SELLING SUPERSTAR rapper and entrepreneur Nelly as the “BET Hip Hop Awards” recipient of the 2021 “I Am Hip Hop” Award. From chart-topping hits that include “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma” (feat. Kelly Rowland), “Country Grammar,” “Ride Wit Me,” and “Cruise” (with Florida Georgia Line), to his popular fashion line Apple Bottoms, to starring in the hit series Real Husbands of Hollywood, and his own reality show Nellyville, the charismatic, multi-platinum music icon will be celebrated for his massive contributions to music and the culture at large. The “BET Hip Hop Awards” premieres Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

BET News presents “State of Our Union: Vice President Kamala Harris” hosted by Soledad O’Brien – an exclusive half-hour primetime news special filmed at the White House featuring a one-on-one conversation between O’Brien and Vice President Harris. The interview focuses on a range of substantive issues impacting the Black community including vaccine hesitancy and access, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, police reform, and voting rights. “State of Our Union: Vice President Kamala Harris” premieres Friday, July 9 at 8/7c on BET.

Culture’s biggest night, the "BET AWARDS" 2021, celebrated Black excellence and again raised the bar for award shows in creativity, ingenuity, and innovation. The LIVE award show premiered Sunday, June 27, solidified its position as the #1 Cable Awards Show among P18-49 for the 2021 broadcast season and is now the best performing award show with impressions this year*. The "BET AWARDS" 2021 drew 2.4 MM Total Viewers P2+ (EDAC), as it was simulcast LIVE across seven ViacomCBS networks including BET Her, MTV, MTV2, Logo, TV Land, and VH1, 1.7 MM Total Viewers P2+ tuning in on BET alone.* With over 8 hours of “BET AWARDS” related content including, “The Countdown to BET Awards” (719K P2+) and “DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic: BET Awards Edition” (1.1M P2+), the network drew over 4.6 MM total Viewers P2+ (EDAC) and 3.7 MM Total Viewers P2+ on BET alone.**

BET celebrates Juneteenth with a curated programming slate under its “Content For Change” initiative that honors the resilience of the African American spirit and the promise of powerful Black futures. Starting at Noon ET/PT, the network will showcase Black achievement across all platforms and will celebrate the national commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States with social justice-themed episodes of series, inspirational films and short-form content. Additionally, BET will launch a special interstitial Manifesto campaign and deliver messages of inspirations featuring top Black talent, thought leaders, and change agents pledging our collective commitment to freedom, liberation, and joy including Principal of Black Future Lab Alicia Garza, Recording Artist Anthony Hamilton, Author and Associate Professor at Rutgers University Brittney Cooper, NASCAR Professional race car driver Bubba Wallace, “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” star Courtney Nichole, “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” star Crystal Renee’ Hayslett, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” star J. Anthony Brown, BET News correspondent and Journalist Marc Lamont Hill, Actress and Activist MJ Rodriguez, “The Ms. Pat Show” on BET+ star Patricia ‘Ms. Pat’ Williams, “Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living” star Na’im Lynn, “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” star Novi Brown, acclaimed Director Reginald Hudlin, award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien, Recording artist Stokley and Vice President of the United States of America Kamala Harris.

Today, BET announces that Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actor, filmmaker and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson will host the 2021 “BET AWARDS” and GRAMMY® award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor Queen Latifah will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement BET Award. The “BET AWARDS” airs LIVE on BET on Sunday, June 27 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT.

Today, BET announces the “BET AWARDS” 2021 nominees with Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby leading the pack with seven nominations respectively. This year’s nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports. The “BET AWARDS” 2021 will air LIVE, Sunday, June 27 on BET at 8 pm ET/ PT.

Nearly a year has passed since the murder of George Floyd, whose life was senselessly taken by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Tuesday, May 25, marks the anniversary date of Floyd’s passing, and BET will engage audiences with three compelling original primetime news specials powered by its social impact initiative Content For Change. These primetime specials will feature a range of notable voices from the Black community who not only pay tribute to the life of George Floyd but reflect on society’s so-called racial reckoning. Has America made meaningful progress in the fight for racial justice and equality in the year since Floyd’ death? If not - what is the path forward? The three-night television event begins Tuesday, May 25 starting at 8 PM ET/PT on BET.

Earl “DMX” Simmons was a prolific writer and lyricist. His music legacy is cemented, being the first rapper to accomplish having his first five albums debut at #1 and the only to have his first two albums debut at #1 in the same calendar year. To honor the life of the beloved hip-hop icon, BET will televise and stream “BET REMEMBERS DMX” including LIVE exclusive coverage of his homegoing celebration Sunday, April 25 at 2:30p.m. ET on BET and its YouTube channel here (in-person attendance to the homegoing celebration is restricted to close friends and family due to health and safety guidelines). In addition to the homegoing celebration, BET will air special programming that day to remember Simmons including a selection of films and documentaries starring or featuring the late recording artist and actor.

TODAY, BET is honoring the life of rap legend DMX, on the day of his passing, Friday April 9, with a special block of programming including a re-air of the hit docuseries Chronicles: Ruff Ryder from 6:00pm – 11:00pm and Inside the Label: Ruff Ryders from 11:00pm to midnight (All times EDT). The special content tribute comes after news of his passing earlier today. The rapper, born Earl Simmons, was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack on Friday, April 2.