BET Awards returns on Sunday with performances from Lauryn Hill, Childish Gambino, Will Smith and more

The BET Awards returns Sunday night with a performance-packed show that will kick off with an incendiary set from Megan Thee Stallion, two days after the release of her third studio album.

The show, which takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will be hosted by the Oscar-nominated actor Taraji P. Henson for the third time.

Artists will include Lauryn Hill and her son YG Marley, Childish Gambino, Ice Spice, Tyla, Chlöe, Coco Jones, Keke Palmer, Marsha Ambrosius, Summer Walker, GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét. Will Smith will perform a new song, although no details have been announced. The Grammy and Oscar winner is still emerging from the infamous Oscar slap two years ago with the successful release of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” helping to boost your return. AND country musician Tanner Adell will also perform on the BET Amplified stage.

The BET Awards will air live starting at 8pm ET on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will be simulcast on Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, TV Land, Nickelodeon at Nite and VH1.

Drake leads the nominations, just as he did last year. That includes an album of the year nod for their eighth studio album, “For all dogs”. One of the awards he’s up for is the music video for “First Person Shooter,” his collaboration with J. Cole that may have been a catalyst for his recent fight with rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Nicki Minaj follows with six, including the album of the year award for her highly anticipated Launch of “Rose Friday 2”. Two of his nominations were for his song with Ice Spice, “Barbie World”, part of the Soundtrack to the box office hit “Barbie”.

J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA and Grammy-winning best new artist Victoria Monet ties with five nods; 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher have four each.

Usher will take home the Lifetime Achievement Award — one of the BET Awards’ highest honors, given to Busta Rhymes at last year’s ceremony and Sean “Diddy” Combs in the previous year. O R&star B is an eight-time Grammy winner and recently wrapped up a two-year Las Vegas residency, “Usher: My Way” at Park MGM. In February, he released his first solo album in eight years, and in August he is set to begin a 24-city U.S. tour titled “Past Present Future.”

Usher 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance was acclaimed and included cameos from stars like Alicia Keys, HER, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Ludacris. His album “Confessions” has sold over 10 million units in the US, ranking it among one of the best-selling musical projects of all time. He released number 1 hits such as “Yeah!” with Ludacris and Lil Jon, “Burn” and “Confessions Part II”.

Presenters include Andra Day, Colman Domingo, DC Young Fly, Devale Ellis, Jay Ellis, Jessica Betts, Ms. Pat, Niecy Nash-Betts, Saucy Santana and more.

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For more coverage of this year’s BET Awards, visit