Surprise! Beyonce started out the 2016 BET Awards with a performance of Freedom held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles

The 34-year-old beauty looked absolutely fantastic in a black sequined bodysuit as she was joined by Kendrick Lamar for the high-energy display.

It had been previously unclear if she would perform as she had the second most nominations of the night with five.

Though she did win a majority of those awards, she was unable to accept them as her mother Tina Knowles took the stage twice throughout the night to pick up Beyonce’s new trophies.

The 62-year-old mother picked-up the gongs for Video Of The Year and the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award as she explained her daughter had to hop on a private jet for a concert in London.

While accepting one of the biggest awards of the night, the matriarch was inspired by the tributes throughout the night as she talked about the big names that the entertainment industry lost in 2016 as she urged everyone to enjoy the current stars while they are still putting their art out there.

Tina said it was important to let artists feel the appreciation while they are living as she elaborated: ‘Let’s let them smell the flowers while they are alive.’

Doing what she does best: No doubt the 34-year-old singer surprised the crowd at the event

Gorgeous: She absolutely scintillated in a black, sequined bodysuit

Power stance: Beyonce has the entire crowd captivated

Hitting the high notes: It had been previously unclear if she would perform as she had the second most nominations of the night with five

Rain dance: Water came from the ceiling as the Queen Bey did her moves

Stunner: Her signature blonde highlighted locks were done in braids

Making a splash! It was quite a performance as water dropped as she and backing dancers performed high-energy choreography

She’s on fire: It was quite a production as in addition to fake rain there was also fire

Black-ish actors Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson did the honours of hosting the three-hour-plus show for the second year in a row.

They began it with a hilarious monologue parodying Broadway smash hit and Tony Award-winning play Hamilton.

 

Beyonce will not be the only featured performance at the event as the Purple One also got several tributes throughout the night.

Dave Chappelle made a rare appearance as he introduced the first tribute performance courtesy of the legendary Roots crew, Erykah Badu and Bilal.

The second tribute of the night came courtesy of Stevie Wonder and Tori Kelly as they put their own spin on Take Me With You.

Jennifer Hudson comes out in a white hooded number as she does a rendition of the legendary performer’s biggest song Purple Rain.

Stunner: Before she came out there was a voiceover from classic Martin Luther King, Jr speech I Have A Dream

Curvaceous: She showed off her signature figure in the racy number

Shining star: She was joined by rapper Kendrick Lamar

Stunning: The Single Ladies hitmaker appeared while Kendrick rapped and walked around her

Putting up her feet: Her look came complete with fishnet stockings as she danced behind Kendrick

Synchronized: Beyonce and Kendrick danced together while he continued rapping his verse

Dynamic duo: After the inspiring performance the two stood and posed as they received a standing ovation

Cool collaboration: Their clothes may have been soaked but it didn’t seem to bother the duo one bit

What a way to start a night: Beyonce and Kendrick definitely set the tone for the celebratory night

Mother dear: Beyonce had to leave the event for a concert but her mother Tina Knowles accepted her awards throughout the night

‘Let’s let them smell the flowers while they are alive’: The 62-year-old matriarch was so touched by the tributes that she urged everyone to let artist know they are appreciated before they die

 

Janelle Monae, who Prince mentored, may have had the best performance of all as she sported an all-white outfit as she performed his hits  Delirious and Kiss to Pop Life before closing it out with I Would Die For You.

Prince’s ex Shiela E closed out the night with a high energy performance in which she showed off her drumming, guitar and singing skills while doing hits including Erotic City.

The first Prince tribute — held at the Billboard Music Awards last month and starring Madonna with a side of Wonder — was met with criticism online.

Quickly following it, BET tweeted: ‘Yeah, we saw that. Don’t worry. We Got You.’

Paying tribute: Stevie Wonder was just one of the artists who honourd the late, great Prince

Unlikely duo: The legendary crooner was joined by Tori Kelly

Stealing the show: Jennifer Hudson walked on stage in a hooded white number and continued the tributes

Signature: She was joined by the legendary Roots crew as she did rendition of Purple Rain

Clearly amazing: Janelle Monae had one of the most highly-anticipated tribute performances of the night

Wonder in white: The 30-year-old stunner wore plenty of white as she sung, shimmyed and sashayed

Talented: She began the medley with Delirious

Moving and grooving: Then she showed off her dancing talent as she did Kiss to Pop Life

Fantastic: She closed out the high-energy performance with I Would Die For You

Suns out, buns out: Taking after her mentor her trousers had the buttocks area cut out

Inspired: After the performance, host Anthony Anderson seemed upset that his thunder was stolen regarding the outfit

Booty-ful: He turned around to reveal the cutouts on the trousers around his bum

Smooth: Maxwell stood under an umbrella as he did his hit Lake By The Ocean

Paying homage: The 43-year-old crooner then shifted into a Prince tribute as he did Nothing Compares 2 U

Moved: Scott Disick was at the event as he looked touch while watching Maxwell’s tribute

The Purple One: Prince was honoured throughout the night with several performances

Daddy duty: Jamie Foxx presented at the award show as he was joined by his daughter Annalise Bishop

The greatest: He paid tribute to Muhammad Ali

Paying tribute: The legendary boxer’s daughter Laila Ali spoke about her father

BET didn’t offer specific details about Sunday’s performance prior to the event as there was no word about which Prince songs would be performed or if the musicians would sing together or separately.

 

However it became apparent throughout at the event that it would be an entire night’s celebration.

Prince died of an accidental drug overdose on April 21 at age 57.

Muhammad Ali was also honoured as he died June 3 at age of 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Jamie Foxx took the stage along with his daughter Annalise Bishop as he talked about the famous heavyweight before introducing the late boxer’s youngest daughter Leila Ali.

Sending a message: Jesse Williams sent a very strong message about race as he accepted the Humanitarian Award for his activism

His time to shine: The 34-year-old actor was presented the prize by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET Debra Lee as he closed out the impassioned speech: ‘just because we’re magic, doesn’t mean we’re not real’

 

In addition to the tributes, it was a night full of star’s pushing their agendas as many took the opportunity to address the upcoming election, gun control and several other social/political issues.

However no one was more poignant than Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams who accepted the Humanitarian Award and took the opportunity to demand equal rights.

The 34-year-old actor said: ‘A system built to impoverish, divide and destroy us cannot stand if we do,” he said, adding, “We know that police somehow manage to deescalate, disarm and not kill white people every day.

He went on to compare and contrast spending money on brand-name clothing to the days when slaves were branded with the markings of their owners.

 

 

 

 

Multi-talented: Alicia Keys showed off her many talents as she played the keyboard, drum machine and acoustic guitar for her performance of In Common

Handome: Usher was one of the last performers of the night as he did new song No Limit

Sending a message: The 37-year-old singer had a political message on the back of his jacket as he turned around to show off: ‘Don’t Trump America’

Rising star: Bryson Tiller did his single Exchange

Tremendous trio: Fat Joe, Remy Ma and French Montana – pictured from left to right – did All The Way Up

He’s got broads in Atlanta: Desiigner performed his hit single Panda

Seal of approval: Beyonce’s proteges Chloe X Halle performed their song Drop

 

Jesse added: ‘We’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil, black gold, ghettoizing and demeaning our creations then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit.’

He finished off the passionate speech by saying: ‘Just because we’re magic, doesn’t mean we’re not real.’

The message of Jesse’s speech definitely reverberated throughout the audience as he received a standing ovation while walking off-stage with his fist in the air.

Later on in the night Samuel L Jackson even paid tribute to the young actor while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award as he said Jesse was ‘the closest thing I’ve heard to a 1960s activist.

 

 

Wow factor: Taraji P Hudson was the first presenter of the night as she made for an eye-popping appearance

Home run: The Empire star used a bat for her introduction

Batter up: The 45-year-old actress wore a black bodysuit along with a see-through skirt with a shimmering silver detailing on it

Cookie is here: She presented the award for Best Duo or Group as  Future and Drake won

Golden: Future accepted the prize as he was joined by DJ Esco

Big night: Later on in the evening she received the Best Actress award

Period piece: Black-ish actors Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson are hosting the award show for the second year in a row as they did a Hamilton parody

Just you wait: The funnywoman jumped into the comedian’s arms for the hilarious segment

Back in black: The 43-year-old actress looked stunning as she sported this racy jumpsuit

 

 

Other performers that hit the stage included Alicia Keys, Usher, Future, Desiigner, Erykah Badu, Jennifer Hudson, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, French Montana and Beyoncé’s mentees, the duo Chloe x Halle.

Top awards handed out at the ceremony included best actor and actress to Michael Jordan and Taraji Henson respectively, while Bryson Tiller was named best new artist as well as best male R&B pop artist. Rihanna took best female R&B pop artist.

Drake & Future won best group, Beyonce’s “Formation” took the award for video of the year, and Drake, who led the nominations with nine, also took home the prize for best male hip-hop artist. Nicki Minaj won best female hip-hop artist.

Sportswoman and sportsman of the year went to Serena Williams and Stephen Curry.

Stunning; Yara ShahidI looked pretty in patterns as she presented the Shine A Light Award

Motley crew: Bobby Brown was joined by his children and the cast of New Edition: The Movie while presenting

Moguls: Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Jacquees and Birdman all presented

After the party it’s the after-party: Following his performance, Usher partied up a storm at West Hollywood hotspot Bootsy Bellows

Cheers! The star was in jovial spirits as he sipped straight from a bottle of champagne while soaking up the celebratory atmosphere

Stepping out in style: The singer opted for distressed jeans, teamed with a blue jacket over a plain white T-shirt

Bust a move: As a group of pals surrounded him, the star showed off the best of his dance moves for all to see

Source:https://www.dailymail.co.uk