Blige, West, Foxx win BET awards

LOS ANGELES – Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx and Chris Brown were all double winners at Tuesday’s BET Awards.

Blige won female R&B artist. And in a tie, she, West and Foxx shared the prize for video of the year. Blige won for “Be Without You,” which features Terrence Howard, who was named best actor.

West and Foxx won the video honor for “Gold Digger,” which was also chosen as best collaboration. The megahit also won a Grammy this year.

“Love to all black people,” a jubilant Foxx told the Shrine Auditorium crowd.

“Y’all are stepping up black music,” West said. “This is the best music right here, and we’ve got to keep on giving it to them like that.”

Brown took home viewer’s choice, for his “Excuse Me Miss,” and best new artist.

Chaka Khan, who was recognized for lifetime achievement, accepted the honor in star-studded style.

“I am so honored to be honored by my people. This means everything to me,” she said as Stevie Wonder, Prince, India.Arie and Yolanda Adams joined her on stage for a five-song celebration.

The 53-year-old singer was among a dozen performers, including Blige, Foxx, Brown, Beyonce, Busta Rhymes, gospel duo Mary Mary and rapper T.I.

The night’s most touching moments came when Mary Mary dedicated the song “Yesterday” to survivors of Hurricane Katrina and when Harry Belafonte, 79, accepted a humanitarian award.

“This award doesn’t just touch vanity,” Belafonte said. “It is a validation of what I stand for, what Paul Robeson stood for. It’s a validation of what W.E.B. DuBois stood for, what Malcolm X and Dr. King stood for.”