The BET Honors were established in 2008 by the Black Entertainment Television network to respect the lives and achievements of African-American luminaries. The awards will be presented annually and broadcast on BET during Black History Month.

The inaugural ceremonies, in 2008, were held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer hosted the first BET Honors in 2008.
Actress Gabrielle Union has hosted the BET Honors consecutively for the past five years

• Alicia Keys (Entertainment Award)
• Tyra Banks (Media Award)
• Dr. Cornel West, University Professor in the Center for African American Studies (Award for Education)
• Richard Parsons (Corporate Citizen Award)
• The Honorable Maxine Waters (Public Service Award)
• CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd (Entrepreneur Award)

• Stevie Wonder
• John Legend
• Gladys Knight
• Wyclef Jean
• Jill Scott
• Brian McKnight
• Ne-Yo
• Raheem DeVaughn
• Blair Underwood
• Danny Glover
• Kerry Washington
• Idris Elba
• Hill Harper
• Vivica A. Fox

• Magic Johnson (Corporate Citizen Award)
• Tyler Perry (Media Award)
• B. Smith (Entrepreneur Award)
• Mary J. Blige (Entertainer Award)
• Judith Jamison (Education Award)
• James Clyburn (Public Service Award)

• Stevie Wonder
• Yolanda Adams
• Anita Baker
• Monica
• Joss Stone
• Ne-Yo
• Queen Latifah
• Anthony Hamilton
• Keyshia Cole
• Whitney Houston

• Whitney Houston (Entertainers Award)
• Queen Latifah (Media Award)
• Sean “Diddy” Combs (Entrepreneur Award)
• Ruth Simmons (Education Award)
• Keith Black (Public Service Award)

• Jennifer Hudson
• Mary J. Blige
• India.Arie
• Patti LaBelle
• Stevie Wonder
• Trey Songz
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Kim Burrell

• Jamie Foxx (Entertainer)
• Cicely Tyson (Theatrical Arts Award)
• Herbie Hancock (Musical Arts Award)
• Iman (Service Award)
• Lonnie Bunch (Education Award)
• Linda Johnson-Rice (Media Award)

• Ne-Yo
• Nicole Ari Parker
• Boris Kodjoe
• Chick Corea
• Lalah Hathaway
• Keyshia Cole
• Tank & Guy
• Naturally 7
• Trey Songz
• Yolanda Adams
• Marsha Ambrosius

• Maya Angelou (Literary Arts Award)
• Stevie Wonder (Musical Arts Award)
• Mariah Carey (Entertainer Award)
• Spike Lee (Media Award)
• Beverly Kearney (Education Award)
• Tuskegee Airmen (Service Award)

• Michelle Obama^[1]
• Willow Smith
• Aretha Franklin
• Common
• Cuba Gooding Jr.
• Terrence Howard
• Cicely Tyson
• Kelly Rowland
• Jill Scott
• John Singleton
• Jennifer Hudson
• Ledisi
• Patti LaBelle
• Anthony Hamilton
• Luke James
• Nick Cannon and his son Moroccan Cannon

• Halle Berry (Service Award)
• T.D. Jakes (Education Award)
• Chaka Khan (Musical Arts Award)
• Lisa Leslie (Athletics Award)
• Clarence Avant (Entrepreneur Award)

• Kenneth Chenault (Corporate Citizen Award)
• Aretha Franklin (Musical Arts Award)
• Carrie Mae Weems (Visual Arts)
• Ice Cube (Entertainer Award)
• Berry Gordy (Entrepreneur Award)
• Nelson Mandela (Leadership Award)

Comedian Wayne Brady hosted.

• Kanye West (Visionary Award)
• Usher (Musical Arts Award)
• Phylicia Rashad (Theatrical Arts Award)
• Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole (Education Award)
• Kwame Simmons (Digital Special Recognition)
• John W. Thompson (Technology and Business Award)

• Ne-Yo
• Trey Songz
• Ben Vareen
• K. Michelle
• Dame Dash
• Patti LaBelle
• Mary J. Blige
• Bobby Brown
• Charlie Wilson
• Glynn Turman
• Diahann Carroll
• Anthony Anderson

Comedian Arsenio Hall hosted the final ceremony.

• Lee Daniels (The BET Honors Television and Film Award)
• Patti LaBelle (Musical Arts Award)
• LA Reid (Business Entertainment Award)
• Eric Holder (Public Service Award)
• Mellody Hobson (Corporate Citizen Award)

• Usher
• Ledisi
• Monica
• Babyface
• Fantasia
• The Deele
• Eddie Levert
• Toni Braxton
• Jussie Smollett
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Gabourey Sidibe
• Terrence Howard
• Raheem DeVaughn

• Official BET website
• Official BET Honors 2008 website
• Official BET Honors 2009 website