Ciara, Kanye Best BET Bets

For those looking to place their bets on the BETs, count on Ciara doing the "1,2 Step" to the winner's circle come show time.

The up-and-coming chanteuse led the list of nominees Monday for the 2005 BET Awards, scoring four nods: Best Female R&B Performer, Best New Artist and two for her hit tune "1, 2 Step" with Missy Elliot--Best Collaboration and BET.com Viewer's Choice Award.

A couple other newbies were close behind. Grammy-winning rap superstar Kanye West was close behind with three nods: Best Male Hip-Hop Performer, Best Gospel Artist and Video of the Year for "Jesus Walks" off his multiplatinum smash, The College Dropout. Tying him was soul crooner John Legend, who nabbed Best Male R&B Performer, Best New Artist and Video of the Year for his single "Ordinary People."

Others marquee names in contention in the music categories include reigning American Idol champ Fantasia, up for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Performer, and last year's big BET winner, 50 Cent, who's contending for Best Male Hip Hop Performer and Best Collaboration with G-Unit protégé/rival the Game for "Hate It or Love It."

In the acting categories, BET's go-to star Halle Berry will compete in the Best Actress category against Beauty Shop matriarch Queen Latifah. On the men's side,Don Cheadle, who scored an Academy Award nomination for his gripping role in Hotel Rwanda, will go head-to-head with Jamie Foxx, who won the Oscar for his pitch-perfect rendering of the late Ray Charles in Ray.

BET organizers also plan to honor R&B legend Gladys Knight with a special tribute and present Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta a humanitarian award for their work improving health-care opportunities for children in Africa and the United States.

The BET Awards honor the best of the African-American community. Organizers are hoping this year's shindig will be biggest yet in the cable channel's 25 year history and top last year's record-setting 5.7 million viewers. To that end, power couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been tapped to tag-team hosting duties. The star-studded affair will also feature performances from the likes of Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Missy Elliot and the Game.

The 2005 BET Awards will air live from Hollywood's Kodak Theater on June 28.

Here's a complete roundup of this year's nominees:

Best Female Hip-Hop: Miri Ben-Ari Jackie-O Remy Martin Shawnna

Best Male Hip-Hop: 50 Cent Jay-Z Ludacris Snoop Dogg T.I. Kanye West

Best Female R&B: Amerie Mariah Carey Ciara Fantasia Alicia Keys Jill Scott

Best Male R&B: Anthony Hamilton John Legend Mario Prince Usher

Best New Artist: Ciara Fantasia The Game John Legend Omarion

Best Gospel Artist: Fred Hammond Donnie McClurkin Ruben Studdard CeCe Winans Kanye West

Best Actress: Halle Berry Kimberly Elise Regina King Queen Latifah Gabrielle Union

Best Actor: Don Cheadle Jamie Foxx Morgan Freeman Mos Def Will Smith

Best Collaboration: Ciara featuring Missy Elliot, "1,2 Step" Destiny's Child featuring Lil wayne and T.I., "Soldier" The Game and 50 Cent, "Hate It or Love It" Jadakiss featuring Anthony Hamilton, "Why" Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot" Usher and Alicia Keys "My Boo"

Best Group: 112 Destiny's Child Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz The Roots Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe

Video of the Year: Amerie, "1 Thing" Jay-Z, "99 Problems" John Legend, "Ordinary People" Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot" Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"

Female Athlete of the Year: Laila Ali, boxing Gail Devers, track & field Lisa Leslie, basketball Serena Williams, tennis Venus Williams, tennis

Male Athlete of the Year: Allen Iverson, basketball LeBron James, basketball Donovan McNabb, football Shaquille O'Neal, basketball Tiger Woods, Golf

BET.com Viewer's Choice: Ciara featuring Missy Elliot, "1,2 Step" Destiny's Child featuring Lil Wayne and T.I., "Soldier" Mario, "Let Me Love You" Omarion, "O" Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe, "Lean Back" T.I., "U Don't Know Me"