BET Honors was created to shine a light on the lives and achievements of African-American luminaries. Honorees over the years included Alicia Keys, Maxine Waters, Magic Johnson, Judith Jamison, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Herbie Hancock, Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Clarence Avant, Nelson Mandela, Pattie LaBelle, Usher, and more. JCE was the producer of the show for its entire run from 2008 to 2016.