Erykah Badu to Return as ‘Soul Train Awards’ Host

Entertainer Erykah Badu will return as the host for BET’s 2017 Soul Train Awards, network officials said Monday.

Badu will host the special, which will air on BET and BET Her on Nov. 26, for the third straight time, according to network officials. Other performers slated to appear on the awards show include Toni Braxton, SWV, Tamar Braxton, 112, Tank and Kirk Franklin. 

R&B singer Solange garnered seven Soul Train Awards nominations to lead all entertainers, with Bruno Mars following close behind with six nods. DJ Khaled, Rihanna and Bryson Tiller also received multiple Soul Train Awards nominations, according to BET.

Braxton will receive the Soul Train Awards’ Don Cornelius Legend Award, while female R&B trio SWV will be honored with the third annual Lady of Soul Award, said the network.

The complete list of nominees for the 2017 Soul Train Awards follows.

Best New Artist
6LACK
H.E.R.
KEVIN ROSS
KHALID
SZA


Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
BRUNO MARS
BRYSON TILLER
CHRIS BROWN
KHALID
THE WEEKND


Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
KEHLANI
LALAH HATHAWAY
LEDISI
MARY J. BLIGE
SOLANGE
SZA


Soul Train Certified Award
BELL BIV DEVOE
JOHNNY GILL
LALAH HATHAWAY
LEDISI
MACK WILDS


Video of the Year
BEYONCÉ – ALL NIGHT
BRUNO MARS - 24K MAGIC
CHRIS BROWN FT. USHER & GUCCI MANE – PARTY
DJ KHALED FT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER - WILD THOUGHTS
SOLANGE - CRANES IN THE SKY


Best Gospel/ Inspirational Award
CHANCE THE RAPPER
CHARLIE WILSON
KIRK FRANKLIN
LECRAE
TAMELA MANN


Album/ Mixtape of the Year
BRUNO MARS - 24K MAGIC
MARY J. BLIGE – STRENGTH OF A WOMAN
SOLANGE – A SEAT AT THE TABLE
SZA – CTRL
THE WEEKND - STARBOY


Rhythm & Bars Award (Formerly Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year)
CARDI B – BODAK YELLOW
DJ KHALED FT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER – WILD THOUGHTS
FRENCH MONTANA FT. SWAE LEE - UNFORGETTABLE
KENDRICK LAMAR – HUMBLE.
YO GOTTI FT. NICKI MINAJ – RAKE IT UP


Song of the Year
BRUNO MARS – THAT’S WHAT I LIKE
CHILDISH GAMBINO - REDBONE
DJ KHALED FT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER – WILD THOUGHTS
KHALID – LOCATION
SOLANGE – CRANES IN THE SKY


The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award
CRANES IN THE SKY 
– WRITTEN BY: TROY L. JOHN, SOLANGE KNOWLES, RAPHAEL SAADIQ (SOLANGE)
LOCATION 
– WRITTEN BY: ALFREDO EMMANUEL GONZALEZ, OLATUNJI OLUTOMIWA, SAMUEL DAVID JIMENEZ, KHALID ROBINSON, JOSHUA SCRUGGS (KHALID)
LOVE ME NOW – WRITTEN BY: BLAKE MATTHEW SIMON MILLS, JOHN HENRY RYAN, JOHN ROGER STEPHENS (JOHN LEGEND)
REDBONE – WRITTEN BY: GEORGE CLINTON, WILLIAM EARL COLLINS, GARY LEE COOER, DONALDMCKINLEY GLOVER II, LUDWIG EMIL TOMAS GORANSSON (CHILDISH GAMBINO)
VERSACE ON THE FLOOR 
– WRITTEN BY: CHRISTOPHER STEVEN BROWN, JAMES EDWARD FAUNTLEROY, BRUNO MARS, PHILIP MARTIN LAWRENCE (BRUNO MARS)


Best Dance Performance
BRUNO MARS – 24K MAGIC
CHRIS BROWN FT. USHER & GUCCI MANE - PARTY
DJ KHALED FT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER – WILD THOUGHTS
SOLANGE FT. SAMPHA – DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR
WIZKID FT. DRAKE – COME CLOSER


Best Collaboration
DJ KHALED FT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER – WILD THOUGHTS
JAZMINE SULLIVAN & BRYSON TILLER – INSECURE
MARY J. BLIGE FT. KANYE WEST – LOVE YOURSELF
SOLANGE FT. SAMPHA – DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR
SZA FT. TRAVIS SCOTT – LOVE GALORE

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.