BET HONORS premieres on Feb. 23

buzzz worthy. . . NEW YORK, NY- February 17, 2015 – Continuing the Black History Month celebration, BET Networks returns with the eighth annual “The BET HONORS” to pay tribute to the contributions of legendary African Americans in the areas of education, theater, business and technology, music and innovation. Comedian Wayne Brady hosts the show for the second year, honoring Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad (Theatrical Award), 21-time Grammy Award-winning entrepreneur Kanye West (Visionary Award), multi-platinum recording star Usher (Musical Arts Award), Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole (Education Award), and Chairman of Microsoft, John W. Thompson (Business & Technology Award). “The BET Honors” premieres Monday, February 23, 2015 at 9 pm/ET. The show opened with an entertaining old-school hip hop performance by Wayne Brady that earned him a standing ovation from the audience. The star-studded roster of performers included Ne-Yo, K. Michelle, Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Patti LaBelle and Charlie Wilson who was joined on stage by Kanye West for an impromptu performance. Keisha Knight Pulliam, Anthony Anderson, Damon Dash, Bobby Brown, Glynn Turman and Diahann Carroll presented the awards to the honorees. Proceeds from the private sale of “THE BET HONORS” will benefit the National Cares Mentoring Program, an organization that helps transform the lives of Black children by inspiring, recruiting, and mobilizing masses of caring Black men and women to mentor and nourish, challenge and champion them. “THE BET HONORS” sponsors include AT&T, Lexus, Macy’s and the U.S. Army. Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks, and Lynne Harris Taylor, Vice President of Specials & Music Production, BET Networks are executive producers, along with Jesse Collins of Jesse Collins Entertainment.