BET Awards 2012: Highlights and Winners.

Samuel L Jackson and Spike Lee

With all the star power at the BET Awards – Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Samuel L. Jackson, to name a few – the most stirring moment came not from a superstar, but from the mother of one.

Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy, provided the emotional highlight of Sunday's ceremony as she sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in tribute to her late daughter, leaving audience members like Beyonce and Soulja Boy in tears.

Cissy Houston

Mariah Carey opened the tribute with memories of her friend. She was followed by a moving number by Monica. Brandy, heavily influenced by Houston, sang two of the late singer's hits. Chaka Khan blazed the stage with "I'm Every Woman," which Houston remade. Gary Houston, Whitney's brother, also performed.

But the nearly four-hour BET Awards was more like the Bleep Awards, as entire segments of performances from Nicki Minaj to Rick Ross were muted out due to foul language. It started during the opening number by West's G.O.O.D. music group, which included Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz. There were long moments of censored silence when the rappers performed "Mercy," though not all the offending words were bleeped out. Moments later, Jackson, the show's host, was joined by Spike Lee as they did a comedic version of Jay-Z and West's hit song "... In Paris," to laughs. "Two distinguished Morehouse men," Lee joked after the performance, referencing the alma mater of the two.

The censor police also worked overtime when Rick Ross performed with his Maybach Music Group and during Minaj's performance and acceptance speech for best female hip-hop artist.

Nicki Minaj

Gospel star Yolanda Adams, who also performed, gently took some of her peers to task as she won best gospel artist, urging them to act mature and use their fame wisely.

Yolanda Adams

"We need all of y'all," she said. "I'm saying the world needs everyone in this room. Please make sure that you use your gift responsibly, 'cause we're watching. Our babies are watching, and they want to be like us."

Chris Brown, Jay-Z, Kanye, and Beyoncé came out on top winning some of the biggest awards. When Beyonce lost “Video of the year” to Jay-Z and West, she playfully hit her husband and laughed. The joking continued moments later, as West was giving his acceptance speech, Jay-Z interrupted him and said: "Excuse me Kanye, I'm gonna let you continue, but ...," and the audience erupted with laughter, recalling West's infamous interruption of Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards speech a few years back.

L-R: Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye and Kim

Chris Brown was also a double winner, picking up his second consecutive win for best male R&B artist, and the "Fandemonium" award for a third time.

Brown also performed in his first televised appearance since the New York City nightclub brawl between his entourage and Drake's. Drake didn't show, though he was named best male hip-hop artist.

Chris Brown

Nigeria's Wizkid won the award for 'Best International Act- Africa' in a tie with Ghanaian artist, Sarkodie.

L- WizKid, R- Sarkodie

Below is the complete list of winners:

Entertainer of the Year
Chris Brown
Centric Award
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Youngstars Award
Diggy
Astro
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith

Best Group
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West)
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior

Best Actor
Kevin Hart
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Denzel Washington

Best New Artist
Big Sean
A$AP Rocky
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Drake
Big Sean
J. Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Collaboration
Wale (featuring Miguel), “Lotus Flower Bomb”
Beyonce ft. J. Cole- “Party”
Big Sean ft. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash- “Marvin Gaye And Chardonnay”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne- “I’m On One”
Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga-“The Motto”
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) ft. Otis Redding- “Otis”

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Marsha Ambrosius
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj
Diamond
Briana Perry
Trina

Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly

Humanitarian Award
The Reverend Al Sharpton

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
Mindless Behavior
Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga
Beyonce
Chris Brown
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) ft. Otis Redding
Wale ft. Miguel

Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Brown & Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Best Actress
Viola Davis
Angela Bassett
Taraji P. Jackson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana

Best Movie
The Help
Good Deeds
Jumping The Broom
Laugh At My Pain
Red Tails

Subway Sportsman of the Year
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Victor Cruz
LeBron James

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins
Candace Parker
Brittany Griner
Venus Williams

Best International Act: Africa
Sarkodie (Ghana) & Wizkid (Nigeria)
Camp Mulla
Ice Prince
Lira
Mokobe

Best international Act: UK
Wretch 32
Estelle
Sway
Emili Sande
Labrinth

Video of the Year
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) Ft. Otis Redding- “Otis”
Usher- “Climax”
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)- “N—-s in Paris”
Beyonce- “Love On Top”
Beyonce- “Countdown”