Summertime Storm of Superstars to Grace the Stage at the BET AWARDS '05

Summertime Storm of Superstars to Grace the Stage at the BET AWARDS '05

LOS ANGELES, June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready America for the most sought after ticket in Tinsel town -- the highly-anticipated BET AWARDS '05, hosted by Hollywood "IT" couple Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Specifics of the show have been kept "top secret," with few details revealed. But what is known about this year's awards show is it's COMPLETELY off the meter! The BET AWARDS '05 will televise LIVE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT* on Tuesday, June 28 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre (* -- telecast tape delayed to Pacific time zone).

As if Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's million dollar star power wasn't enough, mega-box office superstars Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, The Rock and Vivica A. Fox will join the star-studded gala featuring Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Ciara and the legendary Stevie Wonder, rappers T.I., Ying Yang Twins, Nelly, Fat Joe and The Game; along with sultry R&B vixens Faith Evans, Amerie and Toni Braxton.

BET's annual celebration always pops with a slew of celebrities and hip- hop rock stars. Don't miss BET's very own AJ and Free, Big Tigger and Melyssa Ford, Julissa, Mad Linx and Ray J., in addition to celebrities Eva Pigford, Fantasia, Ike Turner, Isaiah Washington, Kimberly Elise, Missy Elliot, Nick Cannon, Remy Ma, Star Jones Reynolds, Teena Marie, Anthony Anderson, Cedric "The Entertainer," Daphne Maxwell Reid, Gabrielle Union, Henry Simmons, Ludacris, Mario, Michael Ealy, Omarion, Sheila E., Steve Harvey, Mike Jones, Terrence Howard, Tye Tribbett & GA and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Want water cooler buzz for weeks to come? Check out BET's exciting Tuesday line-up:

* 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT 106 & PARK: LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET, hosted by AJ and Free

* 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT BET AWARDS '05 live from The Kodak Theatre

* 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT THE AFTERSHOCK: BET AWARDS '05 POST SHOW, hosted by BET's Jacque Reid and Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier

The incomparable Gladys Knight will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington and his delightful wife Pauletta Washington will be honored with the Humanitarian Award. As usual, BET will also highlight memorable moments from the past year with unforgettable tributes. Last year's theme was "Bigger and Better," and BET is going to top that within the very first "CONFIDENTIAL - hush-hush" eight minute opening of the show, according to the executive producers. History will be made, rumors will be dispelled and friendships will be rekindled. This year's show will go down in history as the most amazing, surprising BET AWARDS of all time.

Editor's Note:

Downloadable images and logos are available at our PR website, http://www.bet.com/pr. Excerpts from the red carpet arrivals, show highlights and interview with select BET AWARDS winners will be available via satellite on Wednesday, June 29 at 3:30 a.m. - 3:45 a.m. ET at the following coordinates: IA5, C-Band, Transponder 23, Downlink Freq: 4160 Vertical; and at 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. ET at the following coordinates: I45, C-Band, Transponder 24, Downlink Freq: 4180 Horizontal.

About BET

BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B), is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 80 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque imprint which also publishes compelling fiction under the Sepia imprint and inspirational fiction and nonfiction under the New Spirit imprint.

Source: BET (Black Entertainment Television)

CONTACT: Michael Lewellen, +1-202-669-4867, Michael.lewellen@BET.net, or Marcy Polanco, +1-212-975-3327, marcy.polanco@BET.net, both of BET

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

------- Profile: Ent