Good kudos BET

The BET Awards are only 6 years old, but they're one of the highest-rated cable TV programs of the year for two good reasons.

One: they're packed with top entertainment by superstars like Gladys Knight, 50 Cent, T.I., Akon and Gnarls Barkley, who'll all perform on Tuesday's telecast from the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium (8 p.m. ET/ PT).

Two: They're loaded with hefty drama and controversy.

Take, for example, the diva standoff between Diana Ross and Beyonce. The senior songbird and the young R&B star who portrayed her in "Dreamgirls" managed to dodge each other conveniently during the release of the film that not-so-secretly ticked off Ross because it borrowed liberally from her life without ceding attribution, money or control.

But there's no way that the divas can manage to miss each other on tomorrow night. Beyonce leads with the most nominations (six) and Ross will be center stage receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Oh, yeah, and another Dreamgirl, recent Oscar champ Jennifer Hudson, will be present, too, and perhaps receiving an award as well, having three nominations.

If all three divas behave themselves, expect some hubbub to erupt if another awards participant prevails with a big win: Robin Thicke. He's up for best male R&B artist and his tune "Lost without You" is nommed for the viewer's choice award.

It's not the first time that a white artist has been nominated for these awards bestowed by a TV network chiefly focused on African-American entertainment. Justin Timberlake and Eminem reaped bids in years past, too, but both lost. Will there be a public outcry if Thicke becomes the first to win?

He has tough competition for the male R&B vocalist prize: Akon, John Legend, Gerald Levert and Ne-Yo. He competes for the viewer's prize against Beyonce, Birdman & Lil' Wayne, Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, Ciara and UNK for the Viewer's Choice.

There's also controversy surrounding the award -- or lack of it -- for best female hip-hop artist. The category was canceled "because of few music releases from female rappers," claims the BET press release.

The race for best female R&B artist pits two past winners (Beyonce and Mary J. Blige) against a past loser (Ciara) and two newbies: Hudson and Corinne Bailey Rae.

There are 14 competitive categories in all, honoring a wide span of music artists, entertainers and athletes. An additional honorary prize will be bestowed to Don Cheadle to recognize his humanitarian efforts in Africa.

Mo'Nique will be back to host the awardcast for a third time.

Other celeb talent participating: Kelly Rowland, Fabolous, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Yolanda Adams, Alicia Keys, Jordin Sparks, Mario, Big Boi, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Katt Williams, Charlie Murphy, Nick Cannon and Michael Clark Duncan.