Stars shine at the BET awards
The BET Awards are known for show-stopping performances, and they came one after another on Tuesday. It started off with a dream, uniting Dreamgirls from past and present with a stirring duet between Jennifer Holliday and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.
Though Hudson won a 'Best Supporting Actress' Academy Award for her role as Effie in the movie Dreamgirls, it was Holliday who originated the role on Broadway and made the song And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going one of the most memorable performances in music.
The two Jennifers united to sing what is now both women's signature song particularly noteworthy, given Holliday's complaints about being ignored for her contributions to Dreamgirls. The night's most touching performance was O'Jays singer Eddie Levert's tribute to his late son, singer Gerald Levert, who died in November 2006. The elder Levert was joined by Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams for a rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings, a song which Gerald Levert often performed.
Introducing the number, LaBelle got teary-eyed as she described Gerald Levert as 'one of the best voices around'. ''His life was embodied with soul music,'' she said. Ne-Yo, who won 'Best Male R&B Artist', dedicated his award to Levert, who was also nominated in the category.
Another stand-out performance was Erykah Badu's cover of Love Hangover during a tribute to lifetime-achievement honoree Diana Ross. She emerged in a floor-length dress and huge Afro. She stripped off the dress as the song's tempo increased to reveal a skintight gold bodysuit beneath (Others paying tribute to Ross included fellow Motown legend Stevie Wonder and R&B queen Chaka Khan).
Beyonce also went gold. She took the stage after winning the night's first award, 'Video Of The Year' for Irreplaceable in gold robot gear, which she whittled down to sleek gold lame' pants and a matching bra top for a rousing rendition of her dance anthem, Get Me Bodied. Her fellow Destiny Child alumni appeared moments later to perform her solo hit Like This with Eve.
Hudson was a double winner, snagging a 'Best New Artist' and 'Best Actress Award'. ''I can't believe I'm still winning awards!'' she said as she won her first of the night.
Another winner was rapper T.I, who not only offered thanks, but apologies after getting involved in a scuffle with members of Ludacris' camp earlier in the week. ''They say its a fine line between brilliance and insanity,'' he said, half-joking.
