Kerry Washington stars in ABC's drama series Scandal, on which she plays a crisis management expert. She will announce the Primetime Emmy Award nominations alongside Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman on July 19.
STORY: Jay-Z, Kanye West Among Big Winners at BET Awards
Samuel L. Jackson walks the red carpet with wife LaTanya Richardson. The actor, who currently is on the big screen as Nick Fury in Marvel's The Avengers, hosts the 2012 BET Awards.
Spike Lee walks the red carpet with his wife, attorney Tonya Lewis. The director recently teamed up with Mike Tyson to bring his one-man show, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, to Broadway.
Angela Bassett recently co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the award-winning play The Mountaintop, a fictionalized depiction of the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Actor-singer Jamie Foxx was a presenter at the 2012 BET Awards. His T-shirt pays tribute to Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was fatally shot earlier this year by a neighborhood watchman.
Singer Willow Smith and actor Jaden Smith strike a pose. The siblings are the offspring of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Taraji P. Henson, who earend an Oscar nom for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, co-stars on CBS' Person of Interest and in the film Think Like a Man.
STORY: Mariah Carey, Cissy Houston, Brandy Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston at BET Awards
Hip-hop artist Common co-stars on AMC's drama series Hell on Wheels, which returns for a second season in August.
Regina King stars in the police procedural Southland, which started out on NBC in 2009 and later moved to TNT.
Debra L. Lee serves as chairman and CEO of BET Networks.
STORY: Mariah Carey, Cissy Houston, Brandy Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston at BET Awards
Actor-singer Ray J appeared with sister Brandy in the reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business on VH1.
Rapper Rick Ross is set to release his fifth studio album, God Forgives, I Don't, later this month.
Producer-rapper Jermaine Dupri has collaborated with such artists as Mariah Carey, Usher and Destiny's Child.
STORY: Kanye West Declares Love for Kim Kardashian in Opening Number at BET Awards
Monica poses with her husband, NBA player Shannon Brown. The singer recently reteamed with her The Boy Is Mine collaborator Brandy for another duet, It All Belongs to Me.
Former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams, who has appeared on Broadway in Chicago, recently announced that she signed with Light Records and will release a gospel album in January.
La La Anthony's marriage to NBA star Carmelo Anthony aired as part of a VH1 series, La La's Full Court Wedding. La La, who got her break as a radio DJ, has appeard in movies including You Got Served and in reality series including Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School.
Choreographer Laurieann Gibson, who got her start as a "Fly Girl" on In Living Color, has since worked with Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Diddy.
STORY: Kanye West Declares Love for Kim Kardashian in Opening Number at BET Awards
Producer-rapper Swizz Beatz is married to singer Alicia Keys; they welcomed a baby boy, Egypt, in October 2010.
R&B artist Trey Songz is set to release his fifth studio album, Chapter V, in August.
Faith Evans released her sixth and most recent studio album, Something About Faith, in October 2010. The singer also has acted in several TV programs, including MTV's The Fighting Temptations, opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles, and in the sitcom Half & Half.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who hosts MSBNC's PoliticsNation, was presented with the Humanitarian Award by BET Networks chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee at the BET Awards.
Beyonce and husband Jay-Z sat in the front row with Kanye West and his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, at the BET Awards. Jay-Z and West — aka The Throne — won two awards, as did Beyonce.
The singer won best female R&B artist as well as video director of the year. In accepting the former, she paid tribute to Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and the late Whitney Houston.
The rapper took the stage at Sunday night's awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles.
Chante Moore performed a tribute to Donna Summer, singing a medley of the late singer's hits.
Chris Brown won two awards during the show but made no mention of his recent altercation with Drake at a New York nightclub.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, whose hits include "Happy Feelin's," "Lady of Magic," "Travelin' Man," "Feel That You're Feeling," "Joy and Pain" and "Look in Your Eyes."
Frankie Beverly and Jamie Foxx bond backstage at the BET Awards. Tyler Perry, Tyrese and Faith Evans were among those taking part in the tribute to Beverly's band.
Kanye West and Jay-Z took home two awards at the show: best group and best video of the year.
The singer performed "Wrong Side of a Love Song" during the show.
Nicki Minaj was named best female hip-hop artist at the BET Awards.
Nicki Minaj was among the night's performers.
Samuel L. Jackson, who hosted the BET Awards, kicked off the show with a performance called "Negros in Paris" featuring director Spike Lee as special guest.
Tank, Elle Varner, Tyrese Gibson and Ginuwine catch up during the awards show.
Usher, who recently released his seventh studio album, Looking 4 Myself, performed a stripped-down version of "Climax."
Y'Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Amber Bullock and Yolanda Adams took the stage. Adams was named best gospel artist during the show.
The singer accepts her award for best gospel artist.