Kevin Hart hosts the  2011 BET Awards which airs tonight, June 26th @ 8pm

Justin Bieber, Gladys Knight, Nicki Minaj, Taraji P. Henson, Big Sean, and Ne-Yo join previously announced stars Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle, Steve Harvey, Kelly Rowland, Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Cee Lo Green, Jill Scott, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, DJ Khaled, La La Anthony, Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Queen Latifah, Bruno Mars, Ledisi, Deitrick Haddon, Faithful Central Choir, Music Matters artists Mali Music and Kimberly Nichole, and host Kevin Hart at this year’s BET AWARDS ’11.

Nick Cannon will join 106 & PARK hosts Terrence and Rocsi for “Live Red and Ready,” a LIVE red carpet edition of 106 & PARK. Before Kevin Hart kicks off the Awards show from inside LA’s Shrine Auditorium at 8 p.m.*, viewers will be treated to special, pre-show performances outside by Miguel, Swizz Beatz & Eve, Lloyd, Lil Twist, Diggy Simmons, YC, Mindless Behavior with Tyga, and Internet sensation Karmin, along with exclusive celebrity interviews, beginning at 6 p.m.* on BET. 106 & PARK former hosts Free and Tigger will host the BET AWARDS ’11 post-show, “The After Party Live,” directly following the Awards telecast on Sunday, June 26 at 11 p.m.*

For the first time in BET AWARDS history, the BET AWARDS ’11 Social Media Lounge will be integrated into the LIVE broadcast. Hosted by La La Anthony, the Social Media Lounge will provide viewers with up-to-the-second BET AWARDS ’11 updates from Twitter and Facebook along with exclusive celebrity interviews.



The nominees for the 2011 BET AWARDS are:

Best Female R&B Artist

Marsha Ambrosius

Beyonce

Keri Hilson

Jennifer Hudson

Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist

Chris Brown

Cee Lo Green

Bruno Mars

Trey Songz

Usher

Best Group

Diddy-Dirty Money

Cali Swag District

N.E.R.D.

New Boyz

Travis Porter

Best Collaboration

B.o.B. f/ Haley Williams of Paramore – “Airplanes”

Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”

Chris Brown f/ Tyga & Kevin McCall – “Deuces”

Waka Flocka Flame f/ Roscoe Dash & Wale – “No Hands”

Rihanna f/ Drake – “What’s My Name”

Kanye West f/ Rihanna – “All of The Lights”

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

B.o.B.

Drake

Lil Wayne

Rick Ross

Kanye West

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Diamond

Cymphonique

Lola Monroe

Nicki Minaj

Video of the Year

Marsha Ambrosius – “Far Away”

B.o.B. f/ Hayley Williams of Paramore – “Airplanes”

Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”

Keri Hilson – “Pretty Girl Rock”

Willow Smith – “Whip My Hair”

Kanye West f/ Pusha T – “Runaway”

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom

Mr. Boomtown

Chris Robinson

Kanye West

Hype Williams

Best New Artist

J. Cole

Bruno Mars

Miguel

Willow Smith

Wiz Khalifa

Best Gospel

Byron Cage

Deitrick Haddon

Mary Mary

Karen Clark Sheard

BeBe & CeCe Winans

Best Actress

Halle Berry

Taraji P. Henson

Regina King

Zoe Saldana

Kerry Washington

Best Actor

Laz Alonso

Chris Brown

Don Cheadle

Idris Elba

Jamie Foxx

YoungStars Award

Shenell Edmonds

Keke Palmer

Diggy Simmons

Jaden Smith

Willow Smith

Best Movie

“Death at a Funeral”

“For Colored Girls”

“Takers”

“The Book of Eli”

“Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?”

Subway Sportswoman of the Year

Tamika Catchings

Candice Dupree

Maya Moore

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year

Carmelo Anthony

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

Derrick Rose

Michael Vick

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Nominees

Chris Brown f/ Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look at Me Now”

Lil Wayne f/ Cory Gunz – “6 Foot 7 Foot”

Mindless Behavior – “My Girl”

Nicki Minaj f/ Drake – “Moment 4 Life”

Rihanna f/ Drake – “What’s My Name”

Trey Songz f/ Nicki Minaj – “Bottoms Up”

Centric Award

Marsha Ambrosius

Eric Benet

Cee Lo Green

R. Kelly

Kem

Best International Act: Africa

2Face Idibia (Nigeria)

D’Banj (Nigeria)

D-Black (Ghana)

Angelique Kidjo (Benin)

Fally Ipupa (Congo DR)

Teargas (South Africa)

Best International Act: UK

VV Brown

Chipmunk

Laura Izibor

Skepta

Tinchy Stryder

Tinie Tempah