The BET Awards will air this summer with Taraji P. Henson returning to host for a second straight year.
The awards will once again take place at the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles, with the show airing live on Sunday, June 26, BET announced Thursday.
“I am honored to return as the host of the BET Awards and share the stage with so many powerful and prolific artists; you can even say it is the Empire of Black Excellence,” Henson said in a statement.
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The actress is best known for playing Cookie Lyon on Fox music drama Empire. She also had roles in the films Hustle & Flow, Hidden Figures, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which earned her an Oscar nomination in 2009.
Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, will oversee the annual show and praised Henson in a statement.
“Taraji P. Henson is the personification of Black excellence, and we are excited to collaborate with the phenomenal multi-talented stage and screen actress to host the ultimate celebration of Black culture again this year,” Orlando said. “For over two decades, the BET Awards has been home to Black brilliance, talent, and creativity, providing unforgettable cultural moments, and we look forward to raising the bar for BET Awards 2022.”
Jamal Noisette, vice president of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, will co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay serving as executive producers.
Last year’s ceremony was the #1 awards show on cable among all adults 18-49.
