BET Awards 2010: Chris Brown Michael Jackson tribute, Trey Songz's mom, El DeBarge

Chris Brown's emotional tribute to Michael Jackson was one of the most memorable moments of the 2010 BET Awards, which aired Sunday night on BET.

Brown, who in 2009 pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on singer Rihanna, broke down while singing Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." He cried on stage during the majority of the song.

Brown started his performance by dancing to some of Jackson's other songs. He ended with "Man in the Mirror" and got emotional almost immediately after the song started.

Later, Brown accepted the AOL Fandemonium Prize, an award for an artist's fans. He told his fans, "I let y'all down before, but I won't do it again, I promise you."

Kanye West also came out of hiding for Sunday's ceremony. He opened the show by performing "Power" while standing on a mountain on stage.

Among Sunday's other highlights? The return of El DeBarge, a Prince tribute and artist Trey Songz's mom -- who looked so young that some fans initially assumed she was his girlfriend.

Weigh in: Did Sunday's show change your opinion of Chris Brown?

Here's a full recap of Sunday's show:

***

The show opens with Kanye West, who performs "Power" while standing on a mountain, complete with random smoke explosions. Shots of mountains and dramatic scenery rotate in the background. Let's hope the censors weren't expecting an easy night. They stay very busy during Kanye's performance. Kanye ends the number by laughing devilishly and possibly blowing up the entire world. Can we call this a comeback?

8:08 - Host Queen Latifah welcomes the audience with a musical number that includes some advice for Lil Wayne in prison: "You're a soldier and you can cope, but make sure your soap is on a rope." Then, she goes into full rap mode.

8:15 - Alicia Keys wins Best Female R&B Artist. Yes, she's officially rocking a small baby bump. Her white gown is maternity wear done well. She urges the audience to text the word "Alive" to 90999.

8:22 - Awesome, Queen Latifah wears her "Chicago" getup while introducing Usher, who performs "There Goes My Baby." He's dressed head-to-toe in white and accompanied by an orchestra.

8:28 - Nicki Minaj wins Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. She dedicates the award to Dwayne Carter. For all you hip-hop novices, that's Lil Wayne. She also praises female hip-hop artists: "This is not for me, this is for all of us," she says.

8:35 - T.I. performs "Yeah Ya Know (Takers)" while accompanied by drummer Travis Barker.

8:42 - Nia Long takes the stage and presents the award for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Drake wins. Aww. He thanks his mom. And another shout-out to Lil Wayne. He accepts the award while surrounded by members of the Young Money family.

8:49 - Queen Latifah introduces Gabi Wilson, who's celebrating her 13th birthday. She sings some verses of Alicia Keys' "Fallin."

8:51 - Alicia Keys sings a medley of songs: "No One," "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" "If I Ain't Got You," and "Unthinkable." Gospel singer Kim Burrell joins her on "If I Ain't Got You."

8:57 - Keri Hilson presents the first Music Matters award, designed to highlight new talent. She introduces CJ Hilton from Baltimore.

9:06 - In a skit with Queen Latifah, T.I. utters one of the funniest lines of the night: "Guns at an awards show...that's a bad idea." Then, B.o.B. sings "Airplanes" while joined by Keyshia Cole instead of Hayley Williams from Paramore. Oh cool, Eminem is on the stage, too. He performs "Not Afraid."

9:13 - Monica sings "Everything to Me" and is joined by Deniece Williams, who sings "Silly."

9:17 - Best Collaboration goes to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for "Empire State of Mind." Alicia Keys accepts the award.

9:19 - Diddy-Dirty Money performs "Hello Good Morning." Again, the censors stay very busy. It's the remix version featuring T.I. and Nicki Minaj. We also get some pretty intense strobe lights.

9:31 - Jermaine Jackson introduces a tribute to Michael Jackson. There's a mysterious shadow doing MJ dance moves. OMG, it's Chris Brown. He dances to a series of MJ tunes. Should I feel guilty for liking his dance moves? Then, the lights get bright and Chris takes the mike for "Man in the Mirror." Oh man, he's breaking down on stage. He cries through most of the song. Make that change, Chris. Start with the man in the mirror.

9:39 - Another Music Matters award -- this time, it's Elle Varner. Wow, she's really good.

9:46 - Drake performs "Fireworks," followed by "Over." Then, he joins Young Jeezy for "Lose My Mind."

9:57 - Black Eyed Peas present the award for Best Male R&B artist to Trey Songz. He thanks his mom, who's on stage. "I love you endlessly," he tells her. To call his mom "young" might be an understatement. I first thought she was his girlfriend.

10:05 - El DeBarge performs! Yes, you read that correctly. I had to conduct a few Google image searches just to make sure this wasn't a mirage. He does a medley of greatest hits, including "Rhythm of the Night." Does anyone else remember the "Facts of Life" episode featuring El DeBarge?

10:10 - Todd Bridges gives a Gary Coleman tribute. The entire audience says "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" in unison. Tyrese performs a Teddy Pendergrass tribute.

10:14 - Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell and more perform a tribute to Haiti.

10:22 - John Legend wins the BET Humanitarian Award. He works to fight poverty in Africa. "I don't do this work to do any kind of recognition," he says. "We can make this world better. Let's not waste this opportunity."

10:27 - Another Music Matters artist: J. Cole

10:32 - Trey Songz performs "Yo Side of the Bed." So much emotion in one show tonight. OMG. Just when I think it can't get any more emotional, he covers Prince's "Purple Rain." This is my second favorite performance of the night, right behind Chris Brown's performance.

10:39 - Video of the Year goes to Beyonce and Lady Gaga for "Video Phone." They couldn't make it to the ceremony.

10:40 - Last Music Matters artist of the night: El DeBarge. More El DeBarge? Yes, please!

10:45 - Prince tribute begins. Stevie Wonder gives pre-taped commentary about Prince.

10:47 - Janelle Monae covers "Let's Go Crazy." She goes crazy on stage and I kind of love it.

10:50 - Esperanza Spalding covers "If I Was Your Girlfriend."

10:53 - Alicia Keys covers "Until the End of Time."

10:57 - Patti LaBelle covers "Purple Rain." So emotional. All the women end up on stage together, hugging and serving up some major "woo-hoos."

11:01 - Prince -- er, Prince Rogers Nelson -- accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award. He's speechless. He believes the future is in good hands. "I was pretty wild in my younger days and you don't have to do what I did," he says. Note: Everybody is wondering about the bald woman sitting next to Prince.

11:09 - Brandy and Ray-J are in the house to present the AOL Fandemonium Prize. Huh? An award for fans? Weird. Anyway, Chris Brown's fans win. Chris Brown is on stage. "I let y'all down before, but I won't do it again, I promise you."

11:16 - Viewers' Choice goes to "Hard" by Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy. Man, the show is running so late that they didn't even read the nominees.

11:17 - Ludacris and Nicki Minaj perform "My Chick Bad" while joined by Tommy Lee on drums. Then, DJ Khaled comes on stage for "All I Do Is Win," complete with a marching band. He's joined by a full crew of rappers. Is that Busta Rhymes? Yes, I believe. The censors are hard at work.

11:26 - The show ends. What did you think?

This story was originally published June 27, 2010 at 7:58 PM with the headline "BET Awards 2010: Chris Brown Michael Jackson tribute, Trey Songz's mom, El DeBarge."