Over the weekend R&B Diva Mariah Carey is the proud holder of a lofty new honor.  The new American Ideal jude was just named BMI Icon at Broadcast Music Incorporated’sUrban Awards.  A number of all-star artists paid tribute to Carey, who reportedly showed up to the Friday event “fashionably late.”

Jermaine Dupri was in the building doing his thang, one of my favorite gospel singers Karen Clark Sheard (Please support her yall) and R&B artists Joe, Eric Benet and Fantasia Barrino were among those on hand to honor Mariah.

The BMI, Icon Award is one of BMI’s top honors given yearly to artists and songwriters who have had “a unique and indelible influence on generation of music makers.”

Past Icons include The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Al Green, The Bee Gees, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, among others.

Check out video of Fantasia Performing ‘Hero’ at BMI Urban Awards…

Video of Mariah Carey Accepts BMI Icon Award at BMI Urban Awards

The Songwriter of the Year award was shared by two of hip-hop’s most well-known names: Drake and Lil Wayne.  The pair co-wrote seven songs that ranked among the top-performed.  The win is the second for Drake, who picked up the Songwriter Award last year.  Nicki Minaj’s song “Super Bass” earned the honor for Song of the Year for its writers Minaj, Ester Dean, and Kane Beatz.  Pop Wansel picked up the honor for Producer of the Year. The songwriter/producer has turned out hits for artists like Trey Songz and Drake, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, Fantasia, Ginuwine, Lil Wayne, Kelly Rowland, and Britney Spears.

I love me some Karen Clark Sheard watch as she performs – ‘Anytime you need a friend’ (TRIBUTE to Mariah Carey) BMI Urban Awards 2012…

THe Homies over at the YBF and Rap-up got all the video and photos