Beyonce Knowles performed Get Me Bodied at the ceremony

Knowles won best female R&B artist and video of the year for Irreplaceable at the ceremony, organised by the Black Entertainment Television network.

Oscar-winner Hudson was named best new artist and best actress.

Forest Whitaker took the best actor prize at the Los Angeles show, while Diana Ross was given a lifetime achievement award.

Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan featured in a tribute to the 63-year-old Motown star, while Eryka Badu performed a cover version of her hit Love Hangover.

'Keep it classy'

On stage, she implored performers to "keep it classy".

"I have tried to keep the standards high," she said.

"We do not have to say the F-word, we do not have to pump and grind, we do not have to some of these things to have longevity in our career."

Jennifer Hudson won the best new artist and best actress prizes

Hip-hop stars Public Enemy paid tribute to soul legend James Brown, who died in December, by performing a version of Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud).

Hudson, who won a best supporting actress Oscar earlier this year for her role as Effie in Dreamgirls, performed a duet with Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role on Broadway in the 1980s.

"I can't believe I'm still winning awards," she said as she won her first prize of the evening.

Scuffle apology

Actor Don Cheadle was given a humanitarian award for his work in raising awareness of the conflict in Darfur.

The Hotel Rwanda star told the audience he did not feel worthy of the award.

"I started to respectfully decline in defence to those doing it day-to-day," he said.

"As I accept, I hope one day to be deserving of it."

Other winners included best hip-hop artist TI, who apologised on-stage for getting into a scuffle with members of fellow rapper Ludacris's entourage.

"They say it's a fine line between brilliance and insanity," he said.

Ne-Yo won best male R&B artist, while Gnarls Barkley won best group.