BET Awards 2008

By Staff

Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 14:30

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET.

The nominations for the BET Awards '08 were announced live from 106 and Park "106 & Park" on Wednesday, May 15, 2008. The show took place on June 24 at Shrine Auditorium. The host of the ceremony was D.L. Hughley.

Music legend Quincy Jones has been selected as the 2008 recipient of BET's Humanitarian Award and will receive the honor at the “BET Awards". Jones, 75, is one of the most influential figures in the music industry.

Over a span of five decades, Jones has been nominated for 79 Grammy Awards, winning 27. Outside of his music career, Jones is one of the founders of the Institute for Black American Music, which is creating a national library of African-American music and art. He is also the founder of the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, which aims to break the cycle of poverty and violence by connecting children with education, technology, culture, and the roots and fruits of music.

The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to R&B legend Al Green. With classic records such as “Let"s Stay Together" and “Love and Happiness," Al Green has one of the most impressive discographies in R&B history. He says, "The music is the message, the message is the music. So that's my little ministry that the Big Man upstairs gave to me—a little ministry called love and happiness."

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