BLACK THOUGHT, JAY ROCK, KAREN CLARK SHEARD, KIERRA SHEARD, MISTER JAHI, NAS, PUBLIC ENEMY, QUESTLOVE, RAPSODY AND YG JOIN STAR-STUDDED LINEUP OF PERFORMERS AT "BET AWARDS" 2020

----------

"BET AWARDS" 2020 TO INCLUDE APPEARANCES BY BILLY PORTER, COURTNEY B. VANCE, DEBBIE ALLEN, DEON COLE, LATANYA RICHARDSON JACKSON, LA LA ANTHONY, LENA WAITHE, LIZZO, CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, MISTY COPELAND, NAOMI CAMPBELL, OMARI HARDWICK, QUAVO, QUINCY JONES, RAPSODY, REGINA HALL, SAMUEL L. JACKSON, SAWEETIE, STERLING K. BROWN, VIOLA DAVIS, WHOOPI GOLDBERG AND MORE

----------

AMANDA SEALES WILL HOST THE 20TH ANNUAL AWARDS SHOW AIRING ON BET AND CBS SUNDAY, JUNE 28 AT 8PM ET/PT

----------

#BETAWARDS

New York, NY - (June 24, 2020) - BET announced today that Black Thought, Jay Rock, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Mister Jahi, Nas, Public Enemy, Rapsody, Questlove, and YG will join the star-studded lineup of performers at the "BET Awards" 2020. In addition, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, along with leading entertainers Billy Porter, Courtney B. Vance, Debbie Allen, Deon Cole, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, La La Anthony, Lena Waithe, Lizzo, Michael B. Jordan, Misty Copeland, Naomi Campbell, Omari Hardwick, Quavo, Quincy Jones, Rapsody, Regina Hall, Samuel L. Jackson, Saweetie, Sterling K. Brown, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg and more will make appearances at the annual show, which expanded its footprint to go beyond the confines of a traditional stage show in response to safety precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a first for the network. Hosted by comedian and actress Amanda Seales, the "BET Awards" 2020 will be simulcast LIVE at 8 PM ET across ViacomCBS networks including BET, BET HER, and will make its national broadcast premiere on CBS on Sunday, June 28 (8:00 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT, 7:00 - 10:00 PM CT).

As previously announced, "BET Awards" 2020 will feature performances by Alicia Keys, Chloe X Halle, DaBaby, D Smoke, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Jonathan McReynolds, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, SiR, Summer Walker, Usher, and Wayne Brady, with appearances by BET Amplified Artists, Masego and Lonr. are also set to take the BET Amplified Music Stage, a platform for emerging artists.

Dominating this year's nominations is Drake with a total of 6, including 'Best Male Hip-Hop Artist,' 'Video of the Year,' and two nods for both 'Best Collaboration' and 'Viewer's Choice' for his features alongside Chris Brown (No Guidance) and Future (Life Is Good). Newcomers Megan Thee Stallion and Roddy Ricch follow closely behind with five nominations each. Megan Thee Stallion nominations include 'Best Female Hip Hop,' 'Best Collaboration,' 'Video of the Year,' 'Album of the Year,' and 'Viewer's Choice Award.' Roddy Ricch's nods include 'Best Male Hip Hop,' 'Video of the Year,' 'Best New Artist,' 'Album of the Year,' and 'Viewer's Choice Award.' Other leading nominees include Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Lizzo, and DaBaby, as each garnered four nominations.

Internationally, "BET Awards" 2020 will simulcast on BET Africa at 2 AM CAT on June 29th, followed by international broadcasts in the UK on June 29th at 9 PM BST, France on June 30th at 9:45 PM CEST and in South Korea on June 30th at 9 PM KST. BET will honor the 'Best International Act' in the main show, along with the fan-voted category 'Best New International Act' in the pre-show.

Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET will oversee The "BET Awards" 2020 and serve as Executive Producer along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.

BET.com/betawards is the official site for the "BET Awards" and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show.

Follow us @BET_PR AND @BETAWARDS

ABOUT BET NETWORKS

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa, and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT "BET AWARDS"

The "BET Awards" is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The "BET Awards" franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT

Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran, NAACP Image(R) Award winner and Emmy(R) Award nominee Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, the company has played an integral role in producing some of television's most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE produced the critically acclaimed biopic The New Edition Story, the story on the boy band that aired as a 3-part mini-series and posted record ratings for BET and attracted nearly 30 million viewers. It was followed by The Bobby Brown Story, which chronicled the talented but troubled singer's exit from the popular '80s boy band through his solo success, and was the highest rated non-tentpole program on the network since The New Edition Story. The next mini-series for JCE is Uptown, a 3-part original scripted miniseries for BET that will chronicle the story of producer Andre Harrell's iconic record label, Uptown Records. The company's current scripted TV series is American Soul, the story about the struggle to make the dream of Soul Train, the first nationally-syndicated Black music show, come true. It ended its first season as the #1 new cable scripted drama for African Americans 18-49 and its second season debuts in May 2020. Previously, JCE produced BET's hit TV series Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart that ran for 5 seasons. On the unscripted side, JCE produces annual live specials - the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Past credits include Black Girls Rock!, UNCF's An Evening of Stars, ABFF Honors, BET Honors, Love & Happiness: An Obama Farewell, VH1's Dear Mama, HBO's Amanda Seales I Be Knowin;' Netflix's Def Comedy Jam 25 and Leslie Jones: Time Machine. JCE's game shows include VH1's Hip Hop Squares with Ice Cube and CMT's Nashville Squares. Its music competition series on BET, Sunday Best is now in its 10th season and Netflix's Rhythm & Flow featuring judges Tip "T.I." Harris, Cardi B and Chance the Rapper will soon begin production on its second season that will air in 2021. Collins is also a producer for The Grammy Awards. He was on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players list, has been featured on the cover of Vibe magazine and in numerous publications including Ebony magazine's Power 100 issue. Go to http://www.jessecollinsent.com/ for more information on the company.