The 2022 BET awards are upon us, and this time around, Golden Globe winner and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson takes over hosting duties.
Coming live from the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, the ceremony celebrates the best African-American talent in the entertainment industry. The awards will take place on Sunday, June 26, at 8 PM ET/PT.
Taraji P. Henson Will Host The 2022 BET Awards
The 2022 BET Awards Host
Connie Orlando, the overseer of EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, dubbed Taraji as ‘the personification of Black excellence.’ That is certainly a lot to live up to, but on reflection, Taraji delivers.
Being a Golden Globe winner is no mean feat, and yet, that would be doing Taraji injustice. Her illustrious career is characterised by writing, directing, producing and activism.
But it was in the acting industry that Taraji particularly excelled. Her breakout performance in the movie ‘Hustle & Flow’ propelled her to stardom after gaining much recognition at the Oscars.
That success continued into further projects. Her role as ‘Cookie Lyon’ in the hit drama ‘Empire’ earned her three Emmy nominations, a Critics Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and three BET Awards.
However, it was Taraji’s work alongside Brad Pitt in the critically acclaimed ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ film which earned her rave reviews. That performance led her to earning a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards.
The 2022 BET Awards
Of recent note, though, Taraji has been making waves in the TV scene. Her role as Miss. Hannigan in ‘Annie Live’ earned her an NAACP award for Outstanding Actress.
Other projects currently in the pipeline also promise much. The actress will star in the upcoming ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ movie this summer in a cast including Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Outside of acting, Taraji has equally achieved much acclaim. Her 2016 novel ‘Around The Way Girl,’ a book based on her family and rise to Hollywood, became a New York Times bestseller.
Not only that, but Taraji is known for giving back too. In 2018, she launched the ‘Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation’ after her father.
It prides itself on offering scholarships to the next generation of African-American students, who have majored in mental health and provides support in that regard, all to reduce reoffending rates.
Her efforts were duly recognised, as Taraji appeared on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’ in 2019. And in true fashion, Taraji was delighted to honour other artists in her field. When speaking about hosting the awards, she said:
“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. Working with amazing partners like Scott and Connie at BET and Jesse Collins Entertainment is a creative’s dream. I can’t wait to celebrate Black music, entertainment, and culture with our viewers on what will be one unforgettable night.”
For more information about this year’s awards, you can visit BET.com/bet-awards. Make sure you also give them a follow on Twitter and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Erika Bracey
