BET Hip Hop Awards and Soul Train Music Awards Have Been ‘Suspended’ Indefinitely

BET has indefinitely suspended its Hip Hop and Soul Train Awards.

In an interview with Billboard, BET President Scott Mills revealed that the two shows are being temporarily put on pause.

“I would say that it’s less about them being no longer and more about our team having to reimagine them for this changing media landscape that we find ourselves in,” Mills said. “They aren’t gone.” He did allude that the shows will return via a new format or platform.

The two events have served as cultural touchstones celebrating Urban music and culture. The BET Hip Hop Awards launched in 2006 and was hosted by comedian Katt Williams at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Over the years, it became known for its backstage cyphers, where artists would show off their freestyling skills and dynamic onstage performances.

The Soul Train Awards, which honor the best in Black culture, music and entertainment, received its name from the legendary show. It launched in 1987 and featured performances by R&B and soul artists. In the meantime, Mills told the outlet that the NAACP Image Awards and Stellar Awards won’t be affected.

Mills did not discuss the BET Awards. Known as “culture’s biggest night,” it celebrates the achievements of Black artists, actors, athletes and more across the entertainment industry.

In June, the BET Awards celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.   Still, Mills provided no estimate as to when shows will return.

The Soul Train Awards, inspired by the iconic “Soul Train” TV show, were created by the show’s founder, Don Cornelius, in 1987. The show recognizes achievements in Black music, specifically highlighting soul music, contemporary R&B, gospel, jazz, reggae, and hip-hop.

The last Soul Train Awards took place in 2023, hosted by Keke Palmer. The network did not host the award show in 2024 or 2025. Prior to this pause, BET had aired the show annually since 1987, with the exception of 2008.

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