By Zanub Saeed
The 2012 BET Awards on Sunday were capped with an emotional tribute to the late Whitney Houston, done by friend and former musical collaborator Mariah Carey, who broke down in tears by the end of her speech, along with noted figures in the audience.
Carey, and especially Houston's mother Cissy, brought the audience to tears with a rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a tribute to her late daughter, noted the Associated Press, which left celebrities like Beyoncé and Soulja Boy in tears. R&B singer Monica continued the tribute, singing "I Love the Lord," by Houston, while singer Brandy took a more upbeat approach as her remembrance of the singer by singing and dancing to Houston's hits "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight."
Chaka Khan sang "I'm Every Woman," which she and Houston did a cover of years ago, said the Associated Press, and Gary Houston, the brother of the late singer, performed as well. Rounding out the tributes for Houston were actresses Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine, who costarred with Houston in the film "Waiting to Exhale."
Academy-Award-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson took charge as the host of the award show from Los Angeles, and those who performed and presented included rappers Kanye West and Nicki Minaj, and performers Rick Ross, West's G.O.O.D. group, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz, listed the Associated Press.
"I really, really appreciate BET for keeping this category alive, and I appreciate all the female rappers doing their thing, past, present and future," Minaj said when she won best female hip-hop artist.
Grammy-winner Beyoncé, who was up for six awards, won video director of the year and best female R&B artist, said the Associated Press.
"I fell in love with music by listening to R&B. It's the core of who I am," she said, giving special thanks to Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and "Whitney Houston, my angel," Beyoncé said in her speech.
Other winners of the night were West and Jay-Z for video of the year for "Otis," singer Chris Brown - who won two for male R&B artist, and the "Fandemonium" award - Big Sean as best new artist, Yolanda Adams for best gospel, and the lifetime achievement award to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, listed Entertainment Weekly.
