LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2006/ FW/ --- Today in Los Angeles, BET Networks announced the nominees for the 2006 BET Awards with Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott topping the list with four nominations each.

With actor comedian Damon Wayans as host, together with Mary J. Blige, T.I., Mariah Carey and Kanye West performing on stage, the 2006 BET Awards will be televised live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT (tape delayed to the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones).

Aside from nominees for the 15 categories announced, it was also revealed that R&B icon Chaka Khan would receive the BET Lifetime Achievement Award and actor/singer/activist Harry Belafonte would be honored with the BET Humanitarian Award in this year’s proceedings.

Busta Rhymes, who was one of the artists announcing the nominations along with Ne-Yo, 3-6 Mafia and Keyshia Cole, earned nods for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Duet and Video of the Year and is up for the Viewer's Choice Award.

Jamie Foxx, whose recent solo album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B charts, is up for Best Male R&B Artist, Best Duet/collaboration (with Kanye West), Best Actor and Video of the Year (with Kanye West).

And as for the ladies, Mary J. Blige's nominations include: Best Female R&B Artist, Best Duet/Collaboration (with Busta Rhymes) and two nods for Video of the Year. Missy Elliott, also received two nominations for Video of the Year to go along with her nods for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Best Duet/Collaboration (with Busta Rhymes).

Other artists receiving multiple nominations included: Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown each with three; Anthony Hamilton, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Lloyd Banks, Mariah Carey, Mary Mary, Papoose, Rah Digga, Slim Thug and T.I. each scored two apiece.

The following is a complete list of the 2006 BET AWARDS nominees and categories:

Best Female Hip Hop

Best Male Hip Hop

Best Collaboration (Song Title)

Best Female R&B

Best Male R&B

Best Group

Best New Artist

Best Gospel Artist

Video of the Year (Song Title)

Best Actress

Best Actor

Female Athlete of the Year (Sport)

Male Athlete of the Year (Sport)

BET.com Viewers' Choice (Song Title)

Last year's BET AWARDS was the most-watched program in the network's 26- year history with an amazing 6.6 million viewers tuning in to catch the excitement. BET has again teamed with Cossette Productions, famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the five previous record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast.

For more information, please log on: http://www.bet.com