Miguel, Tyrese, Elle Varner, 2 Chainz, & John Legend Among Soul Train Awards 2012 Winners

Soul Train Awards 2012, held at Planet Hollywood Live in Las Vegas, was simulcast on BET and Centric on November 25th at 8PM ET/PT.  The audience was treated to the best in music entertainment.  Host Cedric the Entertainer, kept everyone laughing while stellar performances from artists including: Stevie Wonder, Charlie Wilson, New Edition, Ne-Yo, and 2 Chainz, encouraged people of all ages to dance and sing along to their memorable and popular songs.

Celebrities from music, film, sports and television such as Jamie Foxx, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Levert, Billy Crystal, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Melanie Fiona, Jody Watley, Doug E. Fresh, Tony Rock, Luke James, Estelle, Donny and Marie Osmond, Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham, and Tamar Braxton, joined Soul Train in celebrating some of the best musical contributions of 2012.  This year's show honored New Edition with the Lifetime Achievement Award and paid tribute to late Soul Train founder, Don Cornelius.

The contributions Don Cornelius made to music changed the landscape of the industry. As a tribute, the Awards show featured video vignettes from old broadcasts, as well as moving words from his son, Tony Cornelius, and Soul Train standout, Jody Watley, who attributes much of her success to Cornelius and Soul Train.

New Edition, whose career has spanned 30 years, were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and followed their moving acceptance speech with a performance of their hits: “Candy Girl,” “Telephone Man,” and “If It Isn’t Love.” Their performance reminded the audience why they fell in love with New Edition from the very beginning.

An always soul stirring performance by the “8^th Wonder of the World,” Stevie Wonder, turned into a massive celebration of President-Elect Barack Obama when his hit “Superstition” was followed by a performance of  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” which was accompanied by projected photos of The President.

The competition was really tough this year with amazing artists and talent.  The 2012 Soul Train Awards Winners are:

Best New Artist-- Elle Varner 



Centric Award -- Leah Labelle



Best Gospel/ Inspirational Performance -- Whitney Houston & Jordin Sparks’  “Celebrate”

Best Hip Hop Song of the Year – Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz “Mercy”

Best R&B/ Soul Female Artist – Beyoncé

Best R&B/ Soul Male Artist -- Miguel

Album of the Year -- 
Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange

Song of the Year -- 
Tyrese’s “Stay”



The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award --“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”: John Legend feat. Ludacris



Best Dance Performance: Beyonce – “Love On Top”


CENTRICTV.com: Best Caribbean Performance -- Sean Paul’s “Tomahawk Technique”



CENTRICTV.com: Best International Performance --
Estelle’s “Thank You”



CENTRICTV.com: Best Independent R&B/ Soul Artist or Group -- Eric Roberson



CENTRICTV.com: Best Traditional Jazz Artist/ Group:
TIE

*The Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio

*Tony Bennett -- Isn’t It Romantic

CENTRICTV.com: Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/ Group -- 
Esperanza Spalding-Radio Music Society


The Soul Train Awards is a presentation of Centric Network. Executive Producers of the telecast are: Paxton Baker, Tami Willis-Arasli, Derek Lewis, CENTRIC; Bart Phillips, Sunseeker Media; and Soul Train Holdings’ Kenard Gibbs, along with Cedric Kyles; Eric Rhone; Doug E. Fresh; and Damien Smith. The Soul Train Awards is directed by Tony McCuin and produced in cooperation with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County Nevada

Encore presentations of Soul Train Awards 2012 will air:

·         Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 7:30pm ET/PT on BET

·         Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 9pm ET/PT on BET

·         Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 9pm ET/PT on BET

·         Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 5:30pm ET/PT on Centric

·         Friday, December 14, 2012 at 8pm ET/PT on Centric

For more information, go to www.BET.com/SoulTrain and Tweet on Twitter using: #SoulTrainAwards.