Hudson, Beyonce tops at BET Awards

Dreamgirls stars nab two awards apiece on a night dominated by tributes to James Brown, Gerald Levert, and Diana Ross.

A bevy of the biggest young stars in entertainment were honored at the BET Awards in Los Angeles last night, but it was a series of tributes to musical legends that stole the show.

Beyonce and fellow Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson took home two awards apiece in a night chock-full of performances. Many of those sets were all-star tributes to the likes of James Brown and Gerald Levert, both of whom passed away in 2006, as well as Motown veteran Diana Ross.

Beyonce, who led all nominees with six, won for best female R&B artist and video of the year for "Irreplaceable." Hudson, the former American Idol contestant whose star turn on Dreamgirls won her an Academy Award in February, snagged a best new artist and best actress award.

Ross was the recipient of an all-star tribute as part of her lifetime achievement award. Erykah Badu got it started with her cover of Ross' "Love Hangover," and fellow soul legends Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan also joined in. Ross was introduced by her five children. Ross urged younger performers to "keep it classy" and refrain from foul behavior.

Brown, the Godfather of Soul who passed away on Christmas morning last year, received a tribute led by Public Enemy and Bootsy Collins, including a stirring rendition of Brown's landmark hit, "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)."

"James Brown gets credit for laying the musical foundations of hip hop, but he set some attitudes for the culture as well," said civil rights activist and longtime Brown friend, the Rev. Al Sharpton. "He was pro-black, pro-strong. It's time for us to pick up the legacy and teach another generation to wear their shoulders back and hold their heads high and be able to say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud."

The night's most touching performance was O'Jays singer Eddie Levert's tribute to his late son, singer Gerald Levert, who died in November 2006. The elder Levert was joined by Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Yolanda Adams for a heart-wrenching rendition of "Wind Beneath My Wings," which Gerald Levert often performed.

In other award categories, Ne-Yo won best male R&B artist and T.I. won for best hip-hop artist. Ludacris, whose manager Chaka Zulu collided with T.I. over the weekend in a brawl at a preceremony event, won for best collaboration for "Runaway Love," his song about wayward girls in trouble, with Mary J. Blige.

The night featured plenty of performances, including from Beyonce and fellow Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland, as well as 50 Cent, Eve, and Hudson's duet with Jennifer Holliday, the actress who originated Hudson's Dreamgirls role on Broadway almost three decades ago.