Los Angeles, June. 28 (AP): The 2007 BET Awards made history even before the first trophy was presented as two ``Dreamgirls'' took the stage.

Jennifer Holliday, one of Broadway's original ``Dreamgirls,'' united with Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson to perform ``And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going'' _ each woman's signature song.

Show host Mo'Nique made a splashy entrance. Introduced by boxing announcer Michael Buffer, who shouted, ``Are you ready to jiggle,'' she was joined by a bevy of plus-sized dancers in matching silver minidresses as they performed Beyonce's song ``Deja Vu'' music-video style.

Beyonce was the night's first winner, capturing the video of the year award for ``Irreplaceable.'' Wearing floor-length silver sequins, she thanked the video's director, Anthony Mandler, the song's author, Ne-Yo, and her parents.

The 25-year-old singer-actress came into Tuesday's Black Entertainment Television Awards with a leading six nominations _ twice as many as any other nominee _ including female R&B artist, collaboration and the viewers' choice award.

Other early winners were best group Gnarls Barkley and best actor Forest Whitaker. Neither was on hand to accept their awards.

``Forest isn't here so the award goes to Michael Clarke Duncan,'' joked Duncan, who presented the best-actor prize with the newest ``American Idol,'' Jordin Sparks.

The start of the three-hour ceremony was punctuated by performances. First up was T.I., followed by R&B crooner Ne-Yo, wearing a white suit and matching fedora, surrounded by half a dozen similarly dressed dancers.

Diddy and Keyshia Cole, backed by a rocking strings section, were briefly joined by rapper Lil Kim. Others set to take the BET stage at the Shrine Auditorium were Beyonce, 50 Cent and Stevie Wonder.

The BET Awards are known for delivering stellar performances, filmmaker John Singleton said on the red carpet before the show.

``Everybody who's anybody is here,'' he said. ``All the performances here kind of outshine the performances on other shows. Everybody just comes here really relaxed, ready to have a good time. It's like a big party.''

Multiple nominees dominated the roster. Hudson, Ciara, Gnarls Barkley and Akon were each triple-nominated, while a host of others _ Ludacris, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Robin Thicke, Mary Mary, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, Corrine Bailey Rae and the late Gerald Levert _ scored two nominations each.

But that was not all the star power at the BET Awards. Other celebrities on the guest list included civil rights activist Al Sharpton, Alicia Keys, Terrence Howard, D.L. Hughley and Rihanna.

Besides honors for artists and athletes in 14 categories, the BET show intended to pay tribute to Diana Ross with a lifetime achievement award and name Don Cheadle the year's humanitarian award winner.

Nominees and winners were chosen by a panel of media and entertainment-industry executives.

Now in its seventh year, the BET show _ unlike most of today's televised awards ceremonies _ continues to grow in both audience and star power.

``If you want authentic black culture, which is now pop culture, we've become the destination,'' said Stephen Hill, the event's executive producer.