2014 BET Awards Nominees & * WINNERS

This year, a glittering awards ceremony took place on Sunday, June 29, 2014 live from LA on the BET cable channel at 8 PM ET.

Your host for the evening's festivities? Funnyman Chris Rock! Scheduled appearances included live performances by Nicki Minaj & John Legend. Along with a bevy of other top entertainment and movie stars, music legend Lionel Richie was also honored this year with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award!

Leading the pack among 2014 BET nominees were (who else?) Beyonce and husband Jay Zboth nominated for five awards, along with Drake. Pharrell, and rising star August Alsina who each had four nominations.

2014 BET Awards VIdeo of the Year winner

also see -> BET Hip Hop Awards

Sean Cosgrave is a frequent editorial contributor to Chiff.com.

Just up ahead, check out the complete list of major 2014 BET Awards nominees and winners honoring the very best in music, entertainment and black achievement ....

2014 BET Awards Nominees & * WINNERS

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist * Beyonce Janelle Monae Jhene Aiko K. Michelle Rihanna Best Male R&B/Pop Artist * Pharrell Williams August Alsina Chris Brown John Legend Justin Timberlake Best Group * Young Money A$AP Rocky Daft Punk Macklemore & Ryan Lewis TGT Best Collaboration * "Drunk In Love," Beyonce feat. Jay Z "I Luv This," August Alsina feat. Trinidad James "Hold On (We're Going Home)," Drake feat. Majid Jordan "Holy Grail," Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake "Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams "My Hitta," YG feat. Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan Best Male Hip Hop Artist * Drake Future J. Cole Jay Z Kendrick Lamar Best Female Hip Hop Artist * Nicki Minaj Iggy Azalea Eve Angel Haze Charli Baltimore Video of the Year * "Happy," Pharrell Williams "Drunk In Love," Beyonce feat. Jay Z "Fine China," Chris Brown "Worst Behavior," Drake "Partition," Beyonce Video Director of the Year * Hype Williams Benny Boom Chris Brown Collin Tilley Director X Best New Artist * August Alsina Ariana Grande Mack Wilds Rich Homie Quan Schoolboy Q Best Actress * Lupita Nyong'o Oprah Winfrey Angela Bassett Gabrielle Union Kerry Washington Best Actor * Chiwetel Ejiofor Forest Whitaker Idris Elba Kevin Hart Michael B. Jordan YoungStars Award * Keke Palmer Gabrielle Douglas Jacob Latimore Jaden Smith Zendaya Best Movie * 12 Years a Slave The Best Man Holiday Fruitvale Station Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain Lee Daniels' The Butler Sportswoman of the Year * Serena Williams Brittney Griner Lolo Jones Skylar Diggins Venus Williams Sportsman of the Year * Kevin Durant Blake Griffin Carmelo Anthony Floyd Mayweather Jr. LeBron James Best International Act: Africa * Davido Tiwa Savage Sarkodie Toofan (Togo) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Mafikhizolo (South Africa)