AceShowbiz -

The annual BET Awards for this year is on and Beyonce Knowles is among the first celebs who hit the event's red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28. Greeting the throng of photographers outside the building, the female R 'n' B performer is snapped donning sparkling Balmain mini dress. She wears a pair of matching heels and finishes off her look with green-colored hoop earrings.

Beyonce, who is one of the leading nominees at the awards gala with five nominations in total, is scheduled to pay tribute to the late Michael Jackson alongside some other music performers, like Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and The-Dream. Actually, those singers already rehearsed their songs for weeks, but they willingly changed the numbers in a bid to honor Michael. "To change it up in three days is something that's not easy but they're all willing and looking forward to it," the awards' producer Stephen Hill previously told Associated Press. "There's a direct line from Ne-Yo to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Beyonce to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Jay-Z to Michael Jackson. I think they'll want to pay tribute in their own way."

Also snapped arriving early to the affair is Joseph Jackson a.k.a. Joe Jackson, father of the late King of Pop. It is Joe's first public appearance since his son's death last Thursday, June 25. Wearing all-black outfits combined with black fedora and sunglasses, the elder Jackson is also spotted sporting a gold necklace and bracelet. On the same occasion, he was interviewed by CNN on him coming to the event and how the family copes with Michael's death. He, moreover, also talked about his new business venture, a record label.