Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King Set to Return as Co-Hosts to Affirm that BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ 2012 special on BET is back for a third televised installment with heartfelt performances, tributes and special awards to celebrate the achievements of remarkable women of color.  Back by popular demand is the dynamic duo of Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King who are returning to co-host this year's awards show.  The historic Loews Paradise Theatre in New York City will be the site of the annual celebration which tapes Saturday, October 13, 2012 and premieres Sunday, November 4, 2012 on BET Networks.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

Black women are leading in the White House and are becoming more and more prevalent in Fortune 500 companies, dominating professional sports, driving political discourse and winning Hollywood's top awards. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 promises to deliver defining moments for women around the world through highlighting empowering stories of excellence from women of color from a broad spectrum of diverse missions and professional backgrounds. 

This year's much-deserving celebrants and award recipients include: Grammy Award-winning music legend Dionne Warwick – Living Legend Award; actress Kerry Washington – Star Power Award; magazine editor, writer and journalist Susan Taylor – Inspiration Award; singer-songwriter Alicia Keys – Rock Star Award; and human rights activists and doctors, Dr. Hawa Abdi and her daughters – Social Humanitarian Award.

The two-hour event will be a star-studded evening with performances and appearances by Alicia Keys, Brandy, India.Arie, Keyshia Cole, Ciara and 2011 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Star Power Award recipient Academy Award-nominee Taraji P. Henson and more.  Viewers can expect more memorable moments from this year's awards show that are sure to empower, entertain and elevate the soul.

"We're thrilled to once again partner with Beverly Bond and her fantastic organization to bring to the screen the 2012 edition of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! It's truly an honor to recognize our celebrants who have accomplishments in a wide variety of fields. Look for some very special performances from an array of genres. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is empowering, uplifting, fun…and perfect on BET!" said Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials.

"BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is extremely proud to partner with BET Networks, for a third year, to produce the 2012 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! special. This show has become an essential platform where dynamic women are honored and exalted for bringing the best of our cultural contributions to the forefront.  The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! award show on BET celebrates the nexus of achievements of women of color and showcases Black female excellence, to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders," said Beverly Bond, founder of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc.

Official sponsors of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 include My Black is Beautiful, Crest 3-D White, COVERGIRL and Chevrolet. 

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 will premiere internationally on Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

For more information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK! go to www.BET.com/BlackGirlsRock  Join the conversation on Twitter by using hashtag: #BLACKGIRLSROCK and following us @BET.

To apply for media credentials to cover BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 red carpet, visit our press site, www.betpressroom.com.  The deadline to apply for media credentials ends at midnight, Monday, October 8, 2012.

The televised special, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 is a BET Networks and B.G.R. Enterprises Inc. production.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Founder and CEO, Beverly Bond executive produces the telecast along with Stephen Hill, President, Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks and Connie Orlando, Salli Frattini of Sunset Lane Entertainment and co-executive Producer, Jane Mun. 

*All times ET/PT

About Tracee Ellis Ross
Ross is best known as the star of the hit sitcom GIRLFRIENDS that ran for eight seasons on The UPN/CW network and earned her eight NAACP Image Award nominations including two wins, one in 2007 and again in 2009 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She recently starred in and produced the NAACP Image Award nominated series REED BETWEEN THE LINES. Ross, who won an NAACP Image Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Award for her performance, co-starred opposite Malcolm Jamal Warner.  Ross was also seen in the short film series FIVE which aired on Lifetime Television and received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance.  In early 2011, Ross returned to the stage and garnered rave reviews in Nora and Delia Ephron's LOVE LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, first at the Westside Theatre in NY and then at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.  Ross's feature film work has included HBO's LIFE SUPPORT with Queen Latifah, Tyler Perry's DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS with Gabrielle Union and HANGING UP with Jennifer Connelly and Marcia Gay Harden to name a few.  Ross is a dedicated and passionate volunteer, intent on making a difference in the lives of at-risk teenage girls. She works closely with Aviva Family and Children Services in Los Angeles and also The Big Brother Big Sister organization. As a vetted Obama Surrogate, Ross campaigned across the country during 2007 and 2008 and again during the current election season. She actively participates in the President and First Lady Obama's Mentoring Initiative.

About Regina King
Regina King's distinguished talents have not gone unnoticed by Hollywood.  The skilled actress can currently be seen playing 'Detective Lydia Adams' in TNT's drama, SOUTHLAND, in production for its fifth season.  Southland focuses on a police unit from Los Angeles, taking viewers into the lives of LAPD cops, criminals and their victims.  In between filming Southland, King made her feature film directorial debut with the teleplay adaptation of the best-selling book, LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN, for BET to air on the network in 2013.  King's notable film credits include OUR FAMILY WEDDING, THIS CHRISTMAS, RAY, MISS CONGENIALITY 2; ARMED AND FABULOUS, CINDERELLA STORY, LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED WHITE AND BLONDE, and DADDY DAY CARE.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, King made her television debut on the hit sitcom "227."  After five seasons, King made the leap to the silver screen with a role in John Singleton's powerful directorial debut, BOYZ N THE HOOD.  She would soon collaborate with Singleton again in POETIC JUSTICE and HIGHER LEARNING.  King has always been consistent in showing her dynamic range, bouncing effortlessly from dramatic material to comedic performances like in the hit film FRIDAY with Ice Cube and in A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE, opposite Martin Lawrence.  A definite turning point in her career came in 1997 with her memorable role as Cube Gooding Jr.'s wife Marci in the blockbuster film JERRY MAGUIRE, which led to starring roles in HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK, ENEMY OF THE STATE, MIGHT JOE YOUNG and DOWN TO EARTH. 

About BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™
Founded by celebrity DJ and Philanthropist, Beverly Bond, BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ is dedicated to promoting positive images of women of color in mass media.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc., is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, that has been dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls since 2006.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc. seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons and helping them to empower themselves. For additional information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™, visit www.blackgirlsrock.org.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), 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 operates in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Follow us on Twitter @BET_PR

SOURCE BET Networks