KANYE WEST, CIARA, ALICIA KEYS, USHER TAKE HOME BET AWARDS

Kanye West earned two honors Tuesday night (June 28th) at the BET Awards '05. Though not on hand to accept his awards, the busy rapper and producer won Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Best Video of the Year for his smash hit "Jesus Walks." Hosted by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, the three-and-a-half-hour event, which was broadcast live from the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, was BET's fifth annual celebration of black music, entertainment, sports, and culture.

• Like Kanye, other winners who weren't there to accept their awards included Usher, Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Shaquille O'Neal, and Serena Williams. Despite the no-shows, the evening was filled with dynamic performances and heartfelt tributes to the dearly departed. The BET Awards '05 kicked off with a powerful surprise reunion of The Fugees with Pras, Wyclef Jean, and Lauryn Hill.
• Ciara , who went into the BET Awards competition with the most nominations -- four -- took home just one award for Best Collaboration with her producer, Missy Elliot, for their track "1, 2 Step." Other musical winners during the show included John Legend, Donnie McClurkin, and Remy Ma.
• Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta were given BET's Humanitarian Award to honor the couple's many charitable works. Gladys Knight, who was given BET's Lifetime Achievement Award, watched a musical tribute by Faith Evans and Toni Braxton before taking the stage herself to belt out an ovation-inducing medley of past hits.
• The show included performances from T.I., Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton,Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Omarion, Mike Jones, Mary J. Blige, Fantasia, Tye Tribbett and The Game, plus aduet by John Legend and Stevie Wonder.
• Halle Berry, Tom Cruise , Alicia Keys, Steve Harvey and Mario were among the show's presenters.
• Also included during the broadcast were tributes to actor Ossie Davis, rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, civil rights attorney Johnnie Cochran, and Rick James, who died in the past year.
• BET award winners are picked by a panel of executives from entertainment companies, record labels and the media. Fans voted online for the Viewer's Choice Award, which was won by Omarion.

COMPLETE LIST OF BET AWARDS '05 WINNERS :

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP:
Remy Martin
BEST MALE HIP HOP:
Kanye West
BEST COLLABORATION:
Ciara featuring Missy Elliott - "1, 2 Step"
BEST FEMALE R&B:
Alicia Keys
BEST MALE R&B:
Usher
BEST GROUP:
Destiny's Child
BEST NEW ARTIST:
John Legend
BEST GOSPEL ARTIST:
Donnie McClurkin
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SONG TITLE)
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
BEST ACTRESS
Regina King
BEST ACTOR
Jamie Foxx
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Serena Williams - Tennis
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Shaquille O'Neal - Basketball
BET.com VIEWER'S CHOICE
Omarion - "O"