Tradition’s Greatest Night time, also called the 2024 BET Awards, is jam-packed with among the hottest acts within the music business. From Megan Thee Stallion kicking off the night time’s festivities to Lauryn Hill, Victoria Monét, GloRilla, Latto and extra hitting the stage, followers have quite a bit to look ahead to with the annual present on Sunday.Â
ET chatted with present executives Connie Orlando and Dionne Harmon in regards to the upcoming present, and the pair opened up about why this yr’s present is one of the best to this point; beginning with Taraji P. Henson making her third hosting stint.
“She exhibits up and she or he’s so excited — she’s extra excited than we’re generally with the concepts,” Orlando tells ET. “She’s inventive. Our viewers loves Taraji and we’re so excited to have her again as a result of she’s the complete package deal and she or he positively elevates the present.”
“I agree, and she or he’s so extremely proficient,” Harmon provides. “You want any individual that is humorous, that may sing, that may dance, that may act and she or he is all that. She’s going to deliver all of that to the present.”
The Golden Globe-winning actress previously hosted the 2021 BET Awards, the place she used the chance to honor some iconic Black women who’ve impacted popular culture. Henson, 53, began the present with a memorable opening monologue and had roses handed out to a number of ladies within the viewers, together with Zendaya, Jazmine Sullivan, Issa Rae and “Queen” Maxine Waters. She additionally donned varied ensembles all through the present that honored and celebrated the types and appears of some groundbreaking artists.
In 2022, Henson took to the stage as the annual awards show’s official emcee as soon as once more, and kicked off the present by bringing attention to SCOTUS’ decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that protected the precise to an abortion.
Henson recently teased ET that she has a “cool AF” surprise for this yr’s present’s opening.
“Oh, lord. It is simply one other a part of my expertise that you just guys get to see,” she mentioned with amusing. “You gonna see quite a lot of issues. [It will be] one other shock for lots of my followers that did not know I might do that. I’ve accomplished it earlier than, however not on Tradition’s Greatest Night time. I feel extra folks will get to see this expertise.”
Whereas she’s but to begin formal rehearsals for the shock, Henson mentioned that she’s engaged on it in “mirror moments at house, in my sleep, in my head, each waking second, simply in order that it is in my physique, so after I get on the stage, it is second nature.”
Orlando and Harmon play coy when requested if they’ll share any particulars on Henson’s shock, however the latter says it is “simply one in all my favourite elements of the entire present.”
Henson’s opener is a part of an overarching theme of the night time, the duo tells ET. “I feel the ladies are main this yr’s present, just like the performances [and] the nominations too, so it is a night time for the ladies,” Orlando says. “Like we’re popping out, they’re performing and it is gonna be an incredible present.”
Harmon provides that the manufacturing group tries to “one-up ourselves” yearly, and ship “these [big] moments.”
One of the crucial extremely anticipated moments of the night time is Usher being honored with this year’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award, which is introduced to gamechangers and business pioneers who’ve left a long-lasting affect on the tradition and leisure. The 45-year-old will be a part of an inventory of earlier Lifetime Achievement BET Award recipients together with Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Samuel Jackson, Lionel Richie, New Version and Busta Rhymes.
“He began when he was 14 and to see his entire journey, he is accomplished all of it,” Orlando says of the singer’s cultural affect. “The [My Way Las Vegas residency] was simply proof of his catalog. He’s a world entertainer and a famous person.”
“Yeah, he’s the tradition,” Harmon provides. “We have grown up with him, and to witness his journey from being an adolescent to this world famous person that he’s now, it is actually thrilling. I noticed the present in Vegas at the least six occasions and labored with him [when he was the headliner for the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show] as effectively, however that is so essential to him and one thing that he is all the time wished.”
Usher’s large second will embody a particular tribute that highlights the “Love in this Club” artist‘s accomplishments throughout music, films and TV — however Orlando and Harmon are mum on what the celebration will embody precisely.
“We’re tight-lipped over right here as a result of we wish everybody to tune in but it surely’s one thing you’ve got by no means seen earlier than,” Orando teases. “It is completely different. It is not what anybody expects, but it surely’s so wonderful. I encourage everybody to tune in and watch.”
Harmon provides, “It’s worthy of his stardom.”
The 2024 BET Awards, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, will air live on the BET channel from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.Â
RELATED CONTENT:
