It would have been asking too much to be spared a live performance from Rihanna (although I am interested to see what she's wearing on the red carpet), but I don't object to any of the other presenters and performers in the final lineup for next week's BET Awards. Oh, except for Al Sharpton, who has spent the better part of the last couple of months waging a half-assed war against some of the artists being honored by BET that night. Wouldn't the best form of protest be to stay away? Anyway, here's the lineup.

Newly-added big name celebs scheduled to appear or perform include: mega-star Beyonce’, hip-hop mogul Diddy, R&B divas Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland, and Alicia Keys, chart-topping ingénue Rihanna, legendary singers Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan, sultry crooners Robin Thicke and Mario, soul maven Erykah Badu, rap stars Nelly and Fabolous, actress Vivica A. Fox, funnyman Charlie Murphy, activist/political leader Al Sharpton, hip hop activist/rapper Chuck D, American Idol Jordin Sparks, writer/director/actor Tyler Perry, movie stars Nick Cannon, Michael Clark Duncan and Henry Simmons, and NFL superstar Reggie Bush.

They join previously announced show talent T.I., 50 Cent, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Yolanda Adams, Tyra Banks, Katt Williams, Big Boi of Outkast and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

With the list above, the majority of which are performers, I don't know when there is going to be time to hand out the awards. Actually, that's what makes the BET awards so much better than all the others. Still, since it is an award show, I've listed my admittedly Beyonce-heavy picks (in bold) after the jump. They're a combination of who I want to win and who I think is going to win. I'm interested to know yours.

Male Hip Hop: Diddy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, T.I.

Collaboration: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Deja Vu”; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Upgrade U”; Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole, “Last Night”; Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige, “Runaway Love.”

Female R&B: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, Corinne Bailey Rae.

Male R&B: Akon, John Legend, Gerald Levert, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke.

Group: Gnarls Barkley, Mary Mary, Outkast, Pretty Ricky, Three Six Mafia.

New Artist: Lupe Fiasco, Gnarls Barkley, Jennifer Hudson, MIMS, Corinne Bailey Rae.

Gospel Artist: Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Mary Mary.

Video of the Year: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, “I Wanna Love You”; Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”; Beyonce & Shakira, “Beautiful Liar”; Ciara, “Like a Boy”; Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy.”

Actress: Tichina Arnold, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington, Chandra Wilson.

Actor: Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Forest Whitaker.

Female Athlete: Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Gail Devers, Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams.

Male Athlete: Reggie Bush, LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dwyane Wade, Tiger Woods.

BET J Cool Like That award: Gerald Levert, Brian McKnight, Eric Roberson, Musiq Soulchild, Elisabeth Withers.

BET Choice award: Beyonce, “Irreplaceable”; Birdman & Lil Wayne, “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy”; Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, “Shortie Like Mine”; Ciara, “Because of You”; Robin Thicke, “Lost Without You”; UNK “Walk It Out.”