# The 16 Greatest BET Awards Performances of All Time

> From unforgettable tributes to career-defining solo sets, these are the moments that stopped time on the BET stage — legends and rising stars who owned the night. Which performance earns the crown?

*By YPB Team · Published June 29, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-16-greatest-bet-awards-performances-of-all-time*

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## Current results (5 votes)

1. **Chris Brown 2010** — 40% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   A breathtaking Michael Jackson tribute one year after MJ's death — moonwalks, flips, and raw emotion in a show-stopping set.
2. **Beyoncé 2007** — 40% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Her iconic 'Get Me Bodied' set backed by an all-female band, widely called one of the greatest BET performances ever.
3. **Destiny's Child 2005** — 20% (1 votes · score 594/1000)
   One of the group's final performances together before disbanding, performing 'Cater 2 U' in an intimate, stunning send-off.
4. **Mary J. Blige 2008** — 0% (0 votes · score 585/1000)
   The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul delivered one of her most emotionally resonant BET sets, voice and presence on full display.
5. **Beyoncé 2003** — 0% (0 votes · score 585/1000)
   Her explosive solo debut performing 'Crazy In Love,' announcing a superstar in the making.
6. **Rihanna 2006** — 0% (0 votes · score 454/1000)
   A star-making performance during her breakout year, cementing her as one of pop and R&B's most exciting new forces.
7. **Beyoncé Jay-Z 2006** — 0% (0 votes · score 454/1000)
   A magnetic joint performance of 'Deja Vu' with Jay-Z, electric chemistry on the BET stage.
8. **James Brown 2003** — 0% (0 votes · score 454/1000)
   The Godfather of Soul delivered a legendary performance alongside a surprise cameo from Michael Jackson.
9. **Nicki Minaj 2010** — 0% (0 votes · score 454/1000)
   An explosive debut BET performance during the rise of rap's most dominant female voice in years.
10. **Whitney Houston 2001** — 0% (0 votes · score 374/1000)
   An emotionally raw Lifetime Achievement performance marking Whitney's triumphant return to the stage.
11. **The Fugees 2005** — 0% (0 votes · score 374/1000)
   A surprise reunion after nearly a decade apart, reminding the world why Lauryn Hill, Wyclef, and Pras are legends.
12. **Usher Beyoncé 2004** — 0% (0 votes · score 374/1000)
   A sizzling duet performance of 'Bad Girl' between two of R&B's biggest stars at their commercial peak.
13. **Prince Tribute 2016** — 0% (0 votes · score 374/1000)
   Stevie Wonder, Maxwell, Sheila E., and Charlie Wilson united for a tearful, soaring tribute to the late Prince.
14. **Kendrick Lamar 2013** — 0% (0 votes · score 374/1000)
   A commanding performance that announced Kendrick as rap's new standard-bearer, raw and precise in equal measure.
15. **Cardi B 2018** — 0% (0 votes · score 175/1000)
   A triumphant post-Invasion of Privacy performance that sealed her status as the biggest female rapper on the planet.
16. **Lil Wayne 2008** — 0% (0 votes · score 48/1000)
   At the absolute peak of his powers, Wayne delivered a ferocious set that reminded everyone why he was the best rapper alive.

Tags: r&b, 2000s, hip-hop, music, performances, legends