BET To Honor Halle Berry, T.D. Jakes, Chaka Kahn

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

BET will spotlight actress Halle berry, R&B singer Chaka Kahn and humanitarian T.D. Jakes as part of its annual BET Honors special which will air in February, the network announced Thursday.

Music executive Clarence Avant, and WNBA star and Olympic Gold medal winner Lisa Leslie will also be honored during the show, which celebrates distinguished African Americans performing at exceptional levels in the areas of music, literature, entertainment, media, service and education. 

BET Honors will air Feb. 11 on the network as part of BET’s Black History Month schedule. Past BET Honors recipients include Cicely Tyson, Jamie Foxx, Iman, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

R. Thomas Umstead
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.