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It's not the Grammys, but it's also not an awards show that makes you endure Carrie Underwood or Ed Sheeran. The BET Honors airs tonight with Twin Cities music giants Mint Condition and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis among the performers. Jam and Lewis -- who just signed a big, new publishing deal with Universal, by the way -- will be featured on the broadcast as part of an all-star jam with the SOS Band. Mint performs not one but two songs, starting with one of its classics and ending with a track off last year's underrated album, "The Speed of Life."

Mint frontman Stokley Williams had just returned from the Honors taping three weeks ago when we ran into him during Prince's marathon at the Dakota, and he marveled about the other performances on the show, also including Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys and Ledisi. Chaka Khan is coolly one of the Honorees this year, as is music executive Clarence Avant, spiritual educator T.D. Jakes, Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie and Oscar winner Hale Berry, about whom Williams also raved just a little bit ("Everybody in the room turned their heads when she walked in," he said). One more reason to watch. The "Honors" airs at 8 p.m. Central Time on BET.