TheYBF.com was on the scene of last night's taping of the 2014 BET HONORS at The Warner Theatre, and we've got inside scoop on what you'll see BEFORE it airs. More inside.....
One of the year's most exciting "feel good" events, the 2014 BET Honors, had witnessed Aretha Franklin (get into her mink!), Berry Gordy, Kenneth Chenault, Ice Cube, Nelson Mandela and Carrie Mae Weems being honored for their many contributions to our culture. In addition to a bosom-popping performance from Mariah Carey, Wayne Brady (who hosted), performed Ginuwine's "Pony" with two dancers and plenty of water. Yeah...
Actor Joe Morton (aka Papa Pope!) introduced honoree Kenneth Chenault.
Tamar Braxton looked stunning on the red carpet (shown above with mom Evelyn Braxton and husband Vincent Herbert at the afterparty). Tamar performed a tribute to honoree Berry Gordy, which included a medley of Diana Ross hits "Do You Know Where You're Going To" and "Upside Down".
She told the crowd that when she and his sisters were younger, they pretended to be The Supremes and fought over who would play Miss Ross. Who do you think snatched that crown...her or Toni?
Honoree Berry Gordy attended with the fab Eskedar Gobeze. During his acceptance speech he talked about founding Motown, calling it a dream come true. After his introduction from Smokey Robinson, he joked about straight men and their "bromances". Oh.
Jennifer Hudson (along with Karen Clark Sheard) both performed tributes to Aretha Franklin. Jennifer's tribute included "Rock Steady" and "Respect" while Karen sang "Amazing Grace." Jenny's looking great by the way.
Honoree Aretha Franklin was introduced by Al Sharpton. During her's tribute, her granddaughter Victory sang Tamela Mann's"Take Me To The King."
And about that fur coat she rocked at the beginning (PETA better not play with her), she explained that the coat "protected her voice from the cold air inside the building." She tossed that mug on the floor during her own tribute her Nelson Mandela like a true diva.
Janelle Monae also performed a tribute to Berry Gordy, which including her own take on some Jackson 5 classics.
Ludacris (shown above with BET's Stephen Hill) did the introduction to honoree Ice Cube. He joked about Cube writing songs that used to be far from honorable.
During his acceptance speech, Ice Cube said he never thought he's shared the stage with people like Berry Gordy and Aretha. He ended his speech by thanking his wife...who was there for him when he went from getting letters from the FBI - to playing an FBI agent on tv. Ride or die!
Radio host Russ Parr posed with wife Darnell.
And Judge Mathis arrived with wife Linda.
The 2014 BET HONORS airs Monday, February 24 9P/8C.
Photos via Aaron J. / RedCarpetImages.net, Jennifer's IG
