First Lady Michelle Obama Joins Cicely Tyson, Ava Duvernay, Erykah Badu, Nadia Lopez and Dr. Helene Gayle on Stage in Celebration of “Black Girls Rock! Tm”

On Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 7P/6C, tune in to BET Networks as it returns with the fifth annual “BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™” paying tribute to six groundbreaking women in the areas of entertainment, education, philanthropy, and health. Hosts Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King return to the show for their fourth year along with honorees Jada Pinkett Smith (Star Power Award), Ava DuVernay (Shot Caller Award), Cicely Tyson (Living Legend Award), Erykah Badu (Rock Star Award), Nadia Lopez (Change Agent Award) and Dr. Helene D. Gayle (Social Humanitarian Award) as well as 2015’s P&G sponsored M.A.D. Girls Chental-Song Bembry, Gabrielle Jordan and Kaya Thomas.

(L-R) Dr. Helene Gayle, Erykah Badu, Nadia Lopez, Michelle Obama, Regina King, Tracee Ellis Ross, Beverly Bond, Debra Lee, Ava DuVernay, and Cicely Tyson pose onstage during "Black Girls Rock!" 2015 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on March 28, 2015 in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

First Lady Michelle Obama stole the show with an empowering speech on the importance of education, proclaiming that Black girls do indeed rock! The show displayed vivacious vocals and memorable performances from Ciara, Estelle, Jill Scott, Fantasia, Sheila E, Lalah Hathaway, Cheryl Lynn, Alicia Myers, and Kathy Sledge, who ended the night with a surprise throwback medley including “Got To Be Real,” “I Want to Thank You,” and “We Are Family”.

Fans excitedly welcomed Will Smith who presented his wife Jada Pinkett Smith with the ‘Star Power Award,’ sponsored by Chevrolet® and shared a steamy kiss on-stage. Afterward, Cicely Tyson, who was presented with the ‘Living Legend Award,’ shared inspiring tales of both triumph and tribulation from her beginnings as an actress.

Chevrolet and My Black is Beautiful co-sponsored the award show that will air on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 at 7PM EDT/ 6PM CDT.

For more information on "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™", visit http://www.bet.com/shows/black-girls-rock.html. Viewers can also find series updates on Facebook by liking the fan pages at http://www.facebook.com/BET. Also, join the conversation about the special on Twitter by using the hashtag, #BlackGirlsRock. Follow the show for all updates & special surprises @BET and @BLACKGIRLSROCK.

The televised special, "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™" is a BET Networks and B.G.R. Enterprises Inc. production. The executive producers of "BLACK GIRLS ROCK™!" are Beverly Bond, CEO, Founder and Creator of BLACK GIRLS ROCK; Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks; Connie Orlando, SVP Original Programming, BET Networks; and Jane Mun, Showrunner.

ABOUT BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ™:

Founded by celebrity DJ and philanthropist, Beverly Bond, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ™ is a multifaceted movement dedicated to shifting the culture of media images and empowering women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been committed to enriching girls through leadership, education, and positive identity development programs since 2006. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ™ Inc. builds the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons and providing tools for self-empowerment and efficacy. For additional information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ™, visit http://www.blackgirlsrock.org.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA, VIA.B), 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 reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER:

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey -- where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over seven million visitors (including more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit http://www.njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.

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