It’s that time again — the 2016 BET Awards are upon us. It will be a night full of great outfits, killer performances, and two wonderful hosts, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson. I love Blackish, but I seeing the chemistry between these two when they’re not playing characters is even more fun to watch. I'm sure you have your own reasons for tuning in, but if you don't have a TV, you might be worried how exactly to do that. Don't worry, BET is making it very easy for fans to stream the 2016 BET Awards so no one has to miss a single moment.
For those of you who go old school and have a television, you can watch the 2016 BET Awards on BET on Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET. The red carpet, though, starts earlier — you can stream it on the BET website beginning at 5:30 p.m or watch it on TV starting at 6 p.m. And if you want more behind-the-scenes gossip during the awards show, there will be a live stream backstage, viewable on the BET website, starting at 8 p.m.. While you can’t watch the BET Awards on their website (that’s just for these live streams), you can watch it on their new app, BET Play. According to The Verge, the app costs $3.99 a month and includes a live stream of the BET Awards as well as access to 16 different shows to watch whenever you please. You still have to pay for it, but it’s a lot less than a cable bill.
This year, it may be worth the $3.99. The performances on the 2016 BET Awards are going to be unmissable — here’s what I’m looking forward to the most.
The Prince Tribute
Yeah, yeah, Madonna — you did a little Prince tribute at the Billboard Music Awards, and it was kind of, bleh. The BET Awards are promising something much more energetic and, you know, way better. I can't wait.
The Roots
Younger people know the Roots as Jimmy Fallon’s backup band. That’s cool, because being on The Tonight Show has given the Roots a lot of great exposure, but don’t forget that the band has their own awesome discography. These guys are crazy talented and should not be overlooked on their own merit.
Alicia Keys
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Alicia Keys, hasn’t it? I’m looking forward to hearing her new music and being awed by her voice on that big stage. She can really fill a room.
Janelle Monae
Speaking of filling a room, is there anyone more entertaining than Monae? Her music is fun, her messages are important, and she can rock a suit like nobody’s business. I can’t wait to see what she’ll do at the awards show.
Usher
Do all of these artists have a retro tinge to them? These are all performers who are established and ready for more — no flashes in the pan. I like watching artists who are constantly reinventing themselves, and Usher is one of them. Still listening to “U Got It Bad” over here, Usher.
Luckily, thanks to BET Play, you don't have to miss any of these performances as they happen throughout Sunday night's 2016 BET Awards.
