BET Awards Marked by Performers on Comeback Trail

The BET awards marked the show's 10th anniversary with a performance-packed ceremony that spread around its prizes and featured artists coming back from legal setbacks — including Chris Brown, who became too emotional to continue singing "Man in the Mirror" during a Michael Jackson tribute.

Brown, who's still trying to rehabilitate his image after pleading guilty to assaulting Rihanna last year, performed an emotional homage to the King of Pop at Sunday night's show, two days after the first anniversary of his death. Brown later received the "AOL Fan-demonium" trophy and said: "I let y'all down before, but I won't do it again."

T.I. made his first TV appearance since getting out of prison in December, singing "Yeah Ya Know."

And even El DeBarge, the falsetto-voiced star of the '80s act DeBarge, made a high-profile return on the show.

Check out the red-carpet fashions from the BET awards

Hosted by Queen Latifah, the show opened with Kanye West singing his "Power" — without any of his past awards show antics, especially his commandeering the stage when Taylor Swift won at last year's VMAs on MTV.

Prince was the recipient of the cable network's lifetime achievement award during a long tribute culminated by Patti LaBelle singing a stirring rendition of "Purple Rain."

The list of winners:

Viewers Choice: Rihanna, featuring Young Jeezy, "Hard"

Best female R&B artist: Alicia Keys

Best male R&B artist: Trey Songz

Best female hip-hop artist: Nicki Minaj

Best male hip-hop artist: Drake

Best collaboration: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"

Best new artist: Nicki Minaj

Best group: Young Money

Video of the year: Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, "Video Phone"

Young stars award: Keke Palmer

Best actress: Mo'Nique

Best actor: Idris Elba

Best movie: Precious

Best gospel: Marvin Sapp

Centric Award: Monica

Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams

Sportsman of the year: LeBron James

Best international act: Dizzee Rascal

Humanitarian Award: John Legend