Posted Dec. 15, 2008 – BET will kick off the inaugural festivities in Washington, D.C., with the second annual BET Honors on Saturday, Jan. 17 and conclude with the network’s first Inaugural Ball on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

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The BET Honors will celebrate legendary songstress Mary J. Blige for her contribution to entertainment; groundbreaking filmmaker Tyler Perry for media; celebrated dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison for role as an educator; businessman, philanthropist and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be honored as corporate citizen; B. Smith for her success as an entrepreneur; and the Congressman James E. Clyburn for his public service.

We are thrilled to kick off this historic inauguration weekend with the return of the BET Honors, a truly inspirational event that pays tribute to extraordinary individuals in our community," said Debra L. Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of BET Networks. “And it couldn’t have worked out more perfectly that the BET Honors and the Inauguration are happening within days of each other, as President-elect Barack Obama epitomizes all that we had in mind when we first put this show together. I’m certain that this year’s BET HONORS will be even more poignant and powerful than we could have ever imagined.”