R&B singer Beyonce leads the field for the 2007 BET Awards, which was announced Wednesday (May 16) by singer Robin Thicke, rappers T.I. and 50 Cent, and others during a press conference at Hollywood’s Renaissance Hotel. Propelled by the success of her second album, “B-Day,” and the award-winning film “Dreamgirls,” Beyonce’s nominations haul doubled that of anyone else. “Dreamgirls” Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, R&B singer Ciara, hip-hop’s Akon and Gnarls Barkley all took three nominations. The Black Entertainment Television Awards in music, television, film and sports will be presented June 26. For the first time in the show’s seven-year history, fans will vote on which song they want to hear by one of the show’s featured performers. Inaugurating this interactive element will be 50 Cent, whose “Curtis” album hits stores on the same day as the telecast. After the rapper’s videos for “Straight to the Bank” and “Amusement Park” debut Thursday (May 17) on BET’s “106 & Park,” viewers can begin to cast their votes. T.I. will also perform on the show, with additional acts to be announced in the coming weeks. Mo’Nique is slated to host the show. Diana Ross will be honored with BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Don Cheadle will be given the Humanitarian Award for his efforts at ending genocide in Darfur. The complete list of nominees included: ⢠Male Hip Hop: Diddy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, T.I. ⢠Collaboration: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Deja Vu”; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Upgrade U”; Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole, “Last Night”; Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige, “Runaway Love.” ⢠Female R&B: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, Corinne Bailey Rae. ⢠Male R&B: Akon, John Legend, Gerald Levert, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke. ⢠Group: Gnarls Barkley, Mary Mary, Outkast, Pretty Ricky, Three Six Mafia. ⢠New Artist: Lupe Fiasco, Gnarls Barkley, Jennifer Hudson, MIMS, Corinne Bailey Rae. ⢠Gospel Artist: Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Mary Mary. ⢠Video of the Year: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”; Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”; Beyonce & Shakira, “Beautiful Liar”; Ciara, “Like a Boy”; Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy.” ⢠Actress: Tichina Arnold, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington, Chandra Wilson. ⢠Actor: Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Forest Whitaker. ⢠Female Athlete: Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Gail Devers, Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams. ⢠Male Athlete: Reggie Bush, LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dwyane Wade, Tiger Woods. ⢠BET J Cool Like That award: Gerald Levert, Brian McKnight, Eric Roberson, Musiq Soulchild, Elisabeth Withers. ⢠BET Choice award: Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”; Birdman & Lil Wayne, “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy”; Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, “Shortie Like Mine”; Ciara, “Because of You”; Robin Thicke, “Lost Without You”; UNK “Walk It Out.”
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