The 12th BET Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on July 1, 2012. The awards recognize Americans in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. Actor Samuel L. Jackson hosted the event for the first time. In honor of Whitney Houston, who died earlier in the year, a musical tribute was performed by Monica, Brandy, Gary Houston, Cissy Houston, Chaka Khan, while Mariah Carey shared some personal memories of her longtime friend. The BET-televised event was watched by 7.42 million viewers and achieved a 3.2 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic, marking the highest numbers for the night on basic cable. Typically taking place every June, this was the first ceremony to be held in July.