Other receiving honors on the night included rapper T.I. [ tickets ], who collected his second consecutive Best Hip Hop Artist trophy, and gospel crooner Kirk Franklin [ tickets ], who repeated his win for Best Gospel Artist.

Singer Ne-Yo [ tickets ] was named Best Male R&B Artist, with Gnarls Barkley [ tickets ] taking home the Best Group nod. Ludacris [ tickets ] and Mary J. Blige [ tickets ] shared the Best Collaboration award for their duet on "Runaway Love."

A complete list of winners is below.

BET also found time during the ceremony to honor the late James Brown and Gerald Levert. Performances by Bootsy Collins, Public Enemy, Gladys Knight and Yolanda Adams paid tribute to the fallen stars.

The awards show, which was broadcast live from Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium, bills itself as an "annual mega-salute to music, film and sports." Basketball star LeBron James was honored as Male Athlete of the Year, while tennis player Serena Williams was chosen as the female winner.

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyonce

Best Male R&B Artist
Ne-Yo

Best Group
Gnarls Barkley

Best Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin

Best Hip Hop Artist
T.I.

Best New Artist
Jennifer Hudson

Best Collaboration
Ludacris/Mary J. Blige, "Runaway Love"

Video of the Year
Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"

Best Actor
Forest Whitaker

Best Actress
Jennifer Hudson

Male Athlete of the Year
LeBron James

Female Athlete of the Year
Serena Williams

BET J Cool Like That
Gerald Levert

Viewers' Choice Award Nominees
Birdman & Lil Wayne, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"