Alicia Keys and Tyra Banks were winners at the inaugural BET (Black Entertainment Network) Honors awards on Saturday (12.01.08).
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Fallin’ singer Alicia was given the Entertainment Award, at the glitzy ceremony held at Washington’s Warner Theatre, but said she still can’t believe she gets paid to do what she loves.
She said: “For me, I’m just a girl from Harlem, and here I am. It’s a tremendous feeling to do what you love and for people to love what you do.
“People are honouring me for doing what my heart tells me to do, and that is so fulfilling.”
R’n’B star John Legend was in the audience at the Warner Theatre in Washington when Alicia was awarded with the accolade, and said he couldn’t think of a more deserving candidate.
He said: “Alicia has had exceptional success in her career. She carries herself with such dignity and grace, and her charitable work is also really exceptional. I think she’s a great entertainer and a great citizen of the world.”
America’s Next Top Model presenter Tyra Banks was given the Media Award, and said she was “touched” to have been recognised for her work. Tyra also paid tribute to Richard Parsons, the Time Warner Board chairman who was given the Corporate Citizen Award, for being such a positive influence in the entertainment industry.
She said: “To have a black man have that much power in the entertainment industry and in publications and radio and television – it’s otherworldly.”
While Michael Jackson pulled out of his scheduled appearance at the ceremony, singing legend Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, Gladys Knight, Brian McKnight, Jill Scott and Raheem DeVaughn all performed.
BET – which focuses on providing entertainment for young, black adults – held the ceremony in celebration of “black achievement in business, entertainment, social justice and philanthropy”.
The event will be broadcast in the US on February 22.
BET Honors, full list of winners:
Media Award – Tyra Banks
Entertainment Award – Alicia Keys
Entrepreneur Award – Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder of ACT I
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Corporate Citizen Award – Time Warner Board Chairman Richard Parsons
Public Service Award – Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat
Award for Education – Cornel West, author, activist and professor of religion at Princeton University
