Kanye, Usher Phylicia Rashad to get BET Honors

NEW YORK (AP) — Someone other than Kanye West is confirming his visionary status.

The superstar rapper will receive the Visionary Award next month at the BET Honors. West — who has called himself a visionary and more — will be one of five luminaries honored at the eighth annual event hosted by Wayne Brady.

Usher will receive the Musical Arts Award for his two-decade career; Phylicia Rashad will receive the Theatrical Arts Award. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art and former president of Spelman College, will receive the Education Award. Microsoft Chairman John W. Thompson will receive the Technology and Business Award.

The BET Honors will be taped Jan. 24 in Washington and will air Feb. 23. Ticket sales will benefit the National CARES Mentoring Program.

Past honorees include Maya Angelou and Whitney Houston.