BET Awards 2024: Everything to Know About 'Culture's Biggest Night'

Get ready to enjoy a performance-packed night celebrating Black artistry! 

Taraji P. Henson is set to host the star-studded 24th BET Awards airing live Sunday, June 20 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles with an opening performance by Megan Thee Stallion. 

Drake is leading the pack with seven nominations, including album of the year and two nominations for video of the year. The rapper is closely followed by Nicki Minaj with six and J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA and Victoria Monét with five.

This year the award show will also present Usher with the Lifetime Achievement BET Award and a special tribute performance.

Taraji P. Henson will host for the third time: 

The “Empire” actress returns to the stage for a third time to host the award show. 

“It's going to be an incredible show,” Henson said to PEOPLE exclusively. “You know, it's culture's biggest night. The performances are going to blow us all away.”

The Oscar-nominated actress said she is preparing to host the show and added that she still gets nervous when it comes to these things. In fact, not being nervous only makes her more nervous. 

“Absolutely. I love nerves,” Henson said to PEOPLE. “I get nervous on the first day of shooting. It's a live show. Anything can go right or wrong, you know, but that's what's so exciting.”

The Golden Globe-winning actress said she was prepared to host the show last year, but the WGA strike started a month before and caused the award show to go without a host. The lack of writers also meant none of the dialogue was prepared beforehand and everything said by presenters was made up on the spot. 

The WGA strike lasted a record 148 days before ending in September 2023.

“I'm super excited,” Henson told BET. “I am. I have been on my mark since the last BET Awards when we had that strike, it was hard. We back, baby.”

Drake and Nicki Minaj lead with the most nominations:

Drake is leading the award show with seven nominations including best album, best male R&B/pop artist, best male hip-hop artist and best collaboration. 

The rapper’s "Rich Baby Daddy," featuring Sexyy Red and SZA, and "First Person Shooter," featuring J. Cole, are both nominated for video of the year. 

Minaj is the most nominated woman of the night with six nominations. The 12-time Grammy nominee is up for album of the year for “Pink Friday 2,” best female hip hop artist, video of the year, BET Her and two best collaborations.

J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA and Victoria Monét are all nominated for five awards while 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher are up for four awards. 

Fans still have the opportunity to vote for the 2024 viewer’s choice award. Voting ends June 30 at 6:30 PM PT/ 9:30 PM ET.

Usher will receive the lifetime achievement award:

This year the award show will also present Usher with the Lifetime Achievement BET Award and a special tribute performance. The “Yeah!” singer will join the ranks of previous honorees including Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Mary J. Blige. 

Artists from all genres will perform: 

Every genre of music — rap, hip hop, pop, Afrobeats, country and more — will have its moment on stage tonight. 

This year’s show will include a slew of performances from GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tanner Adell, Tyla, Victoria Monét, YG Marley, and even Will Smith. 

Earlier this week, the network announced that Smith is set to debut his brand-new song and first solo material in over five years at the award show, but no details were given.

"From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, said in a statement. “We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed."

Childish Gambino, Chlöe, Coco Jones, Keke Palmer, Marsha Ambrosius and Summer Walker were added to the long list of performers taking the stage. 

Presenting this year:

This year’s presenters include Andra Day, Colman Domingo, DC Young Fly, Devale Ellis and Jay Ellis. Other presenters include Jessica Betts, Ms. Pat, Niecy Nash-Betts and Saucy Santana.

How to watch the show:

This year’s “Red Carpet Live Show” will be hosted by Terrence J and include performances by Too $hort, Lil’ Mo, Blxst & Bino Rideaux, Connie Diiamond, 4batz, Hunxho, Kalan.FrFr, Mariah The Scientist, October London, Remy Ma, Tee Grizzley, 310babii, and DJ Quik.

The “Red Carpet Live Show” will start at 6 p.m. ET/PT on BET and is available to stream on BET.com.

The BET Awards will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, June 30 on BET and livestreamed on BET.com.