TRAILBLAZING MULTIPLATINUM SINGER-SONGWRITER ASHANTI TO RECEIVE ‘LADY OF SOUL’ HONOR

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OFFICIAL NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 “SOUL TRAIN AWARDS”

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H.E.R. LEADS WITH 8 NOMINATIONS FOLLOWED BY JAZMINE SULLIVAN & CHRIS BROWN WITH 6

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OTHER TOP NOMINEES INCLUDE WIZ KID AND TEMS WITH FIVE NODS, FOLLOWED BY BLXST WITH FOUR NODS, AND BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC, DOJA CAT, AND YUNG BLEU WITH THREE NODS

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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE ICONIC “SOUL TRAIN” LEGACY AND AIRING FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THE WORLD FAMOUS APOLLO, 2021 “SOUL TRAIN AWARDS” PREMIERES SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28 AT 8 PM ET/PT ON BET AND BET HER

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#SOULTRAINAWARDS

Today, BET announced three-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Maxwell will receive the ‘Legend’ award at the 2021 “Soul Train Awards”. Award-winning and multiplatinum singer/songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and author Ashanti will be the recipient of the ‘Lady of Soul’ honor. The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102006373/en/

Maxwell (Photo: Business Wire)

“It’s an honor to be presented with the Legend award by a community that’s been growing with me throughout my career,” said Maxwell. “I’m so grateful to be sharing this moment with everyone and returning to the Apollo for an evening of excellence.”

“I’m honored to be recognized as this year’s 'Lady of Soul' honoree,” said Ashanti. “This is a full circle moment for me because I received the 'Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year' Award at the Lady of Soul Awards in 2002. As we commemorate 50 years of Soul Train, I’m proud to be a part of this legacy and to return to the Apollo to celebrate."

Additionally, BET has released the official nominations for the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” recognizing the best in Soul and R&B, which will also celebrate Soul Train’s 50^th anniversary.

H.E.R. leads the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” nominations with an impressive eight nods for ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award (x2),’ ‘Best Collaboration (x2),’ and ‘Video of the Year’. Jazmine Sullivan and Chris Brown garnered the second most nods with six nominations each. Jazmine Sullivan’s nods include ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ and ‘Video of the Year’. Chris Brown’s nods include ‘Best R&B/Soul Male Artist,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ ‘Best Dance Performance,’ ‘Best Collaboration (x2),’ and ‘Video of the Year’.

Wiz Kid and TEMS are the third highest with five nods each, followed by Blxst with four nods. Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, Doja Cat, and Yung Bleu each have three nods.

Dynamic best-friend duo Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold will return as co-hosts of the 2021 “Soul Train Awards,” bringing their irreplaceable energy and hilarious comedic talents to this year’s show.

About Maxwell

Maxwell has artfully managed to transfix music lovers for more than two decades, releasing five studio albums, all in his own time and all duly anointed as classics. The soul singer redefined soul music in April of 1996 when he released his critically acclaimed debut on Columbia Music, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. It earned GRAMMY® nominations, double-platinum status and RIAA gold for the single "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)." Platinum albums Embrya (1998) and Maxwell Now (2001) followed. After an eight-year break between album releases, BLACKsummers'night (2009) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won two GRAMMY® awards, including Best R&B Album. To date, Maxwell has achieved 4 platinum album certifications from the RIAA. His last album blackSUMMERS’night, the second installment of his musical trilogy, earned Maxwell his third-GRAMMY® (Best R&B Song for “Lake By The Ocean”) an NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Male Artist), and a Soul Train Award (Best R&B/Soul Male Artist).

About Ashanti

Award-winning singer/songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and author Ashanti has been tapped to receive the seventh annual Soul Train ‘Lady of Soul’ Award. Among her numerous accolades, Ashanti has received several Soul Train Awards throughout her illustrious career, including R&B/Soul Album – Female, Independent R&B/Soul Performance, two awards for R&B/ Soul Single – Female and the Lady of Soul Awards’ Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year Award. Ashanti’s expansive multiplatinum discography has brought her to the top of the charts, meriting eight Billboard awards and a GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary R&B Album (Ashanti). She was the first female to make Billboard history by having her first three chart entries land in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time, a feat previously accomplished only by The Beatles. With a career that spans decades, Ashanti has established herself as a staple in music and will also receive a Star on the infamous Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2022.

BET Soul joins the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” celebration by dedicating a full hour to each honoree’s collection of music videos. Watch many of their iconic music videos, including Ashanti’s "Foolish," "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)," "Baby" and Maxwell’s "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)," "Pretty Wings," "Lifetime" starting today at 6 PM ET. Check local listings.

The 2021 “Soul Train Awards” presented by BET, will feature an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances including special moments and appearances by some of the brightest stars in Black culture and entertainment. The annual event is committed to showcasing the impact of Soul Train on music and dance from the ‘70s to today.

Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show, with Jamal Noisette VP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy to Co-Executive Produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jesse Collins and Jeannae Rouzan–Clay will serve as Executive Producers of the 2021 “Soul Train Awards.”

To apply for red-carpet media credentials to cover the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” taping on November 20 click here. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 5, 2021 by midnight ET.

The complete list of nominees for the 2021 “Soul Train Awards”:

BEST NEW ARTIST

BLXST

CAPELLA GREY

MORRAY

TEMS

TONE STITH

YUNG BLEU

CERTIFIED SOUL AWARD

ANTHONY HAMILTON

ASHANTI

CHARLIE WILSON

THE ISLEY BROTHERS

JAM & LEWIS

T-PAIN

BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST

ALICIA KEYS

DOJA CAT

H.E.R.

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

JHENÉ AIKO

SZA

BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST

BLXST

CHRIS BROWN

GIVEON

LUCKY DAYE

TANK

USHER

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

BRIAN COURTNEY WILSON

JAMES FORTUNE

KELLY PRICE

KIRK FRANKLIN

MAVERICK CITY MUSIC

TASHA COBBS LEONARD

SONG OF THE YEAR

BLXST FEAT. TY DOLLA $IGN & TYGA - CHOSEN

BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC - LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN

H.E.R. – DAMAGE

JAZMINE SULLIVAN – PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS

WIZ KID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE

YUNG BLEU FEAT. DRAKE – YOU’RE MINES STILL

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

BLXST - NO LOVE LOST

DOJA CAT - PLANET HER

GIVEON - WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE… TAKE TIME

H.E.R. - BACK OF MY MIND

JAZMINE SULLIVAN - HEAUX TALES

WIZKID - MADE IN LAGOS

THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD

CAN’T LET IT SHOW - WRITTEN BY: KATE BUSH, DURRELL BABBS (TANK)

COME THROUGH - WRITTEN BY: CARL MCCORMICK, CHRIS BROWN, H.E.R., KELVIN WOOTEN, MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS II, TIARA THOMAS (H.E.R. FEAT. CHRIS BROWN)

DAMAGE - WRITTEN BY: ANTHONY CLEMONS JR., CARL MCCORMICK, H.E.R., JAMES HARRIS, JEFF GITELMAN, TERRY LEWIS, TIARA THOMAS (H.E.R.)

ESSENCE - WRITTEN BY: AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN, ONIKO EDDIE UZEZI, ONIKO EVAWERO, RICHARD ISONG, TEMILADE OPENIYI (WIZKID FEAT. TEMS)

LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN - WRITTEN BY: BRUNO MARS, BRANDON ANDERSON, DERNST EMILE II, CHRISTOPHER BRODY BROWN (BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC)

PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS - WRITTEN BY: BLUE JUNE, CHI, AUDRA MAE BUTTS, JAZMINE SULLIVAN, KYLE COLEMAN, MICHAEL HOLMES (JAZMINE SULLIVAN)

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE

CHLOE X HALLE - UNGODLY HOUR

CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG - CITY GIRLS

LIZZO FEAT. CARDI B - RUMORS

NORMANI FEAT. CARDI B- WILD SIDE

USHER – BAD HABITS

BEST COLLABORATION

CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG FEAT. FUTURE, LIL DURK, LATTO - GO CRAZY (REMIX)

DOJA CAT FEAT. SZA – KISS ME MORE

H.E.R. FEAT. CHRIS BROWN – COME THROUGH

JAZMINE SULLIVAN FEAT. H.E.R. – GIRL LIKE ME

WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE

YUNG BLEU FEAT. DRAKE – YOU’RE MINES STILL

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC - LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN

CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG FEAT. FUTURE, LIL DURK, LATTO - GO CRAZY (REMIX)

H.E.R. – DAMAGE

JAZMINE SULLIVAN – PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS

NORMANI FEAT. CARDI B – WILD SIDE

WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE

ABOUT BET

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT

Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service television and film production company that has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. The Emmy® nominated company has a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first look on JCE’s film development projects which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players. The award-winning and critically acclaimed television that JCE has produced includes miniseries—”The New Edition Story” and “The Bobby Brown Story;” scripted series—”American Soul” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood;” unscripted series – “Cardi Tries;” talk show – “Face to Face with Becky G;” Emmy Award winning children’s series—”Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices;” award shows—”BET Awards,” “Black Girls Rock!,” “BET Honors,” “UNCF’s An Evening of Stars,” “BET Hip Hop Awards,” “ABFF Honors” and “Soul Train Awards;” specials—”John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero,” “Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration,” “Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today,” “Stand Up for Heroes,” “Dear Mama,” “Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin’,” “Def Comedy Jam 25” and “Leslie Jones: Time Machine;” as well as competition/game shows—”Sunday Best,” “Hip Hop Squares,” “Nashville Squares” and “Rhythm & Flow.” Jesse Collins, founder and CEO of the company, is the executive producer of all programming. He is also an executive producer for the iconic “Grammy Awards” and “The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show” and also produced The 2021 “Academy Awards.” He will next executive produce the 2021 “American Music Awards.” Go to jessecollinsent.com for more information on the company.

ABOUT THE APOLLO

The non-profit Apollo is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals and large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the world premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved; special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo; 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella; the annual Africa Now! Festival; bi-annual Women of the World (WOW) Festival; as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben Ari; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information about the Apollo, visit www.ApolloTheater.org.

ABOUT SOUL TRAIN

“Soul Train” was created in 1971 by visionary Don Cornelius and predominantly featured performances by R&B, pop, soul, and hip-hop artists, in addition to the occasional funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists. When the final episode of the show’s historic thirty-five-year run aired in 2006, it was the longest running first-run, nationally syndicated program in television history. “Soul Train” highlighted a cast of incredible, ethnically diverse dancers who famously introduced the world to a whole new series of dance moves and styles on a weekly basis. Cornelius opened every show welcoming the audience to “the hippest trip in America” and closed each show wishing the audience “love, peace and soul.” Today, the legacy of “Soul Train” lives on through the legendary Soul Train dance line, which has become a timeless staple on dance floors across America. In 2016, BET, acquired the “Soul Train” brand and remains dedicated to revitalizing the brand while also honoring its heritage.

ABOUT SOUL TRAIN HOLDINGS

SOUL TRAIN HOLDINGS, LLC was formed in May 2008 and is owned by InterMedia Partners and a partnership between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle's investment firm, The Yucaipa Companies. The iconic franchise and catalog consists of more than 1,100 episodes and 40 specials from Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. Soul Train is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated music program in television history. During its 35-year run, the show featured lasting innovations such as the Soul Train line and the legendary sign off “Love, Peace and Soul.” At the heart of the show was Don Cornelius, the dancers and influential artists such as James Brown, Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, Donna Summer, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Prince, Run D.M.C. and Destiny’s Child.

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