The BET Her Award honors motivational and empowering songs that center women. The award was first awarded in 2006 as the BET J Cool Like That Award to honor outstanding neo soul and traditional R&B artists. The name of the award was changed when the BET J channel was rebranded as Centric in 2009, and again in 2018 when Centric was rebranded as BET Her. Until 2012, artists themselves were nominated, but in 2013, BET began nominating artists with a respective song. Beyoncé is the most awarded artist in this category with three wins.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
BET J Cool Like That Award (2006–2007) BET J Award (2008–2009) BET Centric Award (2010–2017) BET Her Award (2018–present)
2000s Year Artist Ref 2006 Anthony Hamilton Corrine Bailey Rae Eric Benét Heather Headley Kindred the Family Soul 2007 Gerald Levert Brian McKnight Musiq Eric Roberson Elisabeth Withers 2008 Raheem DeVaughn Chaka Khan Ledisi Jill Scott Angie Stone 2009 Jazmine Sullivan Musiq Raphael Saadiq Seal Solange
2010s Year Artist Song Ref 2010 Monica Melanie Fiona Maxwell Chrisette Michele Sade 2011 Marsha Ambrosius Eric Benét CeeLo Green Kem R. Kelly 2012 Common Estelle Robert Glasper Robin Thicke Tyrese 2013 Tamar Braxton "Love and War" Fantasia "Lose to Win" Miguel "Adorn" Nas "Daughters" Charlie Wilson "My Love is All I Have" 2014 Jhené Aiko "The Worst" Aloe Blacc "The Man" Jennifer Hudson "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)" Wale "LoveHate Thing" Liv Warfield "Why Do You Lie?" 2015 The Weeknd "Earned It" AverySunshine "Call My Name" Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk" Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige "Stay with Me" Jazmine Sullivan "Dumb" 2016 Beyoncé "Formation" Andra Day "Rise Up" The Internet "Under Control" K. Michelle "Not a Little Bit" Rihanna "Bitch Better Have My Money" 2017 Solange "Cranes in the Sky" Mary J. Blige "Thick of It" Fantasia "Sleeping with the One I Love" Kehlani "Distraction" Syd "All About Me" Yuna "Crush" 2018 Mary J. Blige "Strength of a Woman" Janelle Monáe "Django Jane" Remy Ma "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)" Leikeli47 "2nd Fiddle" Lizzo "Water Me" Chloe x Halle "The Kids Are Alright" 2019 H.E.R. "Hard Place" Alicia Keys "Raise a Man" Ciara "Level Up" Janelle Monáe "Pynk" Queen Naija "Mama's Hand" Teyana Taylor "Rose in Harlem"
2020s Year Artist Song Ref 2020 Beyoncé "Brown Skin Girl" Alicia Keys "Underdog" Ciara "Melanin" Layton Greene "I Choose" Lizzo "Tempo" Rapsody "Afeni" 2021 SZA "Good Days" Alicia Keys "So Done" Brandy "Baby Mama" Bri Steves "Anti Queen" Chloe x Halle "Baby Girl" Ciara "Rooted" 2022 Mary J. Blige "Good Morning Gorgeous" Alicia Keys "Best of Me (Originals)" Chlöe "Have Mercy" Ari Lennox "Pressure" Jazmine Sullivan "Roster" Summer Walker "Unloyal" Doja Cat "Woman" 2023 Beyoncé "Break My Soul" Lizzo "About Damn Time" PinkPantheress and Ice Spice "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2" Megan Thee Stallion "Her" Rihanna and Ludwig Göransson "Lift Me Up" Coi Leray "Players" Lizzo "Special"2024 Victoria Monét "On My Mama" Beyoncé "16 Carriages" Nicki Minaj "Blessings" Ayra Starr "Commas" FLO "Fly Girl" Megan Thee Stallion "Hiss" SZA "Saturn" GloRilla "Yeah Glo!"2025 Summer Walker "Heart of a Woman" Mary J. Blige "Beautiful People" Beyoncé "Blackbiird" Doechii "Bloom" Tems "Burning" Cynthia Erivo "Defying Gravity" Tems "Hold On" FLO "In My Bag"2026 Doechii "Girl, Get Up" Tasha Cobbs Leonard "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" Jill Scott "Be Great" Jill Scott "Beautiful People" Tems "First" Summer Walker, Latto & Doja Cat "Go Girl" Doja Cat "Gorgeous" Olivia Dean "Lady Lady"
References