USA: A who's who African-American pop culture turn out for anniversary of Black Entertainment Television (BET) channel

It was a who's who of African American pop culture Wednesday (October 26, 2005) night as B.E.T. (Black Entertainment Television) celebrated its 25th anniversary. Rap, R & B, funk and the worlds of movies and sports were on full display at the evening's red carpet arrivals outside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Whitney Houston and her husband Bobby Brown, posed for photographs, as did rap mogul Sean "Diddy Combs, and tennis star Serena Williams. Also walking the red carpet were rapper Nelly, R & B crooner R. Kelly, John Legend and the members of "Earth, Wind & Fire." Director Quentin Tarantino was there, as were Snoop Dogg, one of the evening's performers, Bootsy Collins, retired boxer Mike Tyson and R & B diva Mary J. Blige. The celebration also doubled as a farewell salute to BET's retiring founder/chairman Robert L. Johnson.Opening act Earth, Wind & Fire reprised its hit, "Let's Groove," which was the first video to air on BET when it launched in 1980. From there, five hosts each anchored five-year segments that recalled the channel's 25-year history through performances, clips ("BET Moments") and reflections from key figures in business, music, television and film, including Johnson's successor, president/CEO Debra Lee. Performers who had the audience on its feet most of the night included Keys, Snoop Dogg (with George Clinton in tow) and Nelly. Taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, special will air Tuesday (Nov. 1) on the network.

ITN Source | November 5, 2005

Tags:. .george. .moments. .act. .nov. .clinton