Janet Jackson to perform live on BET’s awards telecast

Tuesday’s BET Awards will be more than just a musical summit meeting between the worlds of R&B; and hip-hop. The ceremony will mark the return of Janet Jackson to live TV.

Jackson, who helped launch a nationwide debate on indecency when her breast was exposed for a moment during the Super Bowl halftime show in January, is one of the featured performers for the cable channel’s awards telecast, which will be broadcast live to the East Coast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. (The ceremony will be shown on tape delay at 8 p.m. on the West Coast.)

And unlike other live shows, including the Grammys and the Oscars, which have instituted a delay of several seconds as a result of the Jackson hoopla, BET producers say their show will truly be live.

“We’re the livest of the live awards shows, absolutely,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s vice president of music programming and talent. “We’ve always done a live show, and we see no reason to change. There’s no need for concern. We have great confidence and communication with our artists.”

In addition to Jackson, the show will feature performances by Usher, OutKast, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Jay-Z and Kanye West. Mo’Nique will host.

Topping the list of nominees are Beyonce, OutKast, Usher, Jay-Z and Kanye West. Danny Glover will be given the Humanitarian Award, and the Isley Brothers will receive a lifetime achievement award. The awards show has proved to be one of BET’s highest-rated programs during the last three years.