How to Watch BET Without Cable: Stream the TV Network Online Free Here

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Ever since its inception in 1983, BET — or the Black Entertainment Network — has been a go-to television channel for music, movies, TV shows and specials, with no shortage of memorable moments over the years.

Home to the annual BET Awards (and the BET Hip-Hop Awards), the NAACP Image Awards, and the Soul Train Awards, among others, BET also aired the popular 106 & Park music countdown show for 14 celebrated years. The channel was also home to original series like Being Mary Jane, ComicView, Bobby Jones Gospel, American Gangster and The Game, amassing millions of viewers each week for the drama and laughs.

These days, BET continues to be a top destination for entertainment, with hit series like Sistas, The Family Business, Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living, Ms. Pat Settles It and more. The good news: with fewer people actually owning a cable box these days, you can now watch BET online without cable.

Keep reading to find out how to stream BET and get a live feed of the television channel online.

How to Stream BET Online Without Cable

The best way to watch BET shows online is by signing up for a live TV streaming service, which lets you watch television channels through the internet, without needing cable.

Watch BET Online With Fubo

One of our favorite streamers is Fubo, which offers 150+ channels that you can stream from home, including BET. Fubo’s plans start at $64.99/month and include unlimited live streaming on up to ten devices, plus cloud DVR, but right now, you can test out Fubo with a seven-day free trial here. Use the free trial to livestream BET online free and catch your favorite shows as they air.

GET: FUBO 7-DAY FREE TRIAL

What we like: Fubo’s free trial includes free DVR so you can record your shows to watch back on-demand on your own time. See full details here.

Watch BET Online With Philo

Another great way to watch BET online without cable is through Philo. The streaming service costs just $28/month for 70+ channels, including BET, BET Her, MTV, VH1, Lifetime and more. This makes Philo one of the best values in streaming and an affordable way to stream BET shows and live specials. Use this seven-day free trial to test out Philo’s offerings without commitment.

GET: PHILO 7-DAY FREE TRIAL

Philo’s plans also include DVR and you can record and store your shows for up to one year, to watch back a replay on-demand. See the latest Philo deals here.

Watch BET Online With DirecTV Stream

We’re also big fans of DirecTV Stream, which offers all the cable channels you get on DirecTV but in an easy and convenient streaming service. Use DirecTV Stream to watch live TV online, with 90+ channels available including BET.

GET: DIRECTV STREAM 5-DAY FREE TRIAL

DirecTV Stream currently offers a five-day free trial that you can use to livestream BET online free. Continue on after your free trial is done with streaming plans starting at just 74.99/month.

Watch BET Online With Sling TV

Sling TV lets you watch BET online at home with the channel offered on both its Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans. While Sling doesn’t currently offer a free trial, it has the most affordable streaming options on our list, with a new deal getting you 50% off your first month of service. Plans for Sling Orange are the cheapest, starting at just $23 here. Sign up for watch BET online through Sling.

All of the above streaming services like you watch BET network online through your phone, tablet, computer or smart TV.

How to Watch BET+ Online

BET is not to be confused with BET+, the standalone streaming service that offers many original shows and specials that you can’t find on the conventional cable network. BET+ exclusives include Kingdom Business, All the Queen’s Men, Tyler Perry’s Ruthless and more.

GET: BET+ 7-DAY FREE TRIAL

Try out BET+ with this seven-day free trial, reserved exclusively for Amazon Prime members. Not a Prime member? Get a 30-day free trial to access all the perks here.

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Stephen Stills Is ‘Glad’ to Have His ‘Original Personality Back’ Amid Sobriety

Stephen Stills is opening up about how his sobriety journey is benefitting the next stage in his career.

The 80-year-old “Love the One You’re With” singer has been completely sober for the past three years, and told Rolling Stone in a new interview, “It gets me back to the kid I was before this madness started, pretty affable and friendly. Things were so special at the beginning of my career before I sold a single record. But when you add poison into that mix… I’m just glad I have my original personality back.”

He’s also been performing a number of one-off gigs in recent years, since retiring from the road in 2018. Earlier this year, he took the stage at the Kia Forum alongside Dawes, Mike Campbell and Graham Nash for the star-studded FireAid benefit concert. “FireAid helped me check and see if my thrusting and coagulating still worked,” he told the publication. “I’m getting a little more active now, so there’s a possibility [of touring again]. It depends on the kind of venues I can attract.”

Stills revealed that he’s working on a memoir, though he admits he’s “going one word at a time” and looking through old newspaper articles to help him remember life events. “I’ve looked at the issues from my birthdays throughout the years. That’s been very helpful since it puts you in that timeframe and suddenly your memories opens up,” he said. “Brain cells holding hands at this age is a challenge. Things pop in sometimes and you find out you’re a decade off. It’s been a great tool. But I’m puttering with the book. I’ve found that the more things change, the more things stay the same. And I must say, it’s a lot easier doing this now that I’m sober.”

The star’s next show is singer-songwriter Judy Collins’ 85th birthday celebration at New York’s Town Hall on March 8.

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Doechii Drops ‘Anxiety’ Single: Stream It Now

Doechii heard the swamp “loud n clear” and dropped her “Anxiety” single on Tuesday (March 4) via Top Dawg Entertainment and Capitol Records.

She announced “Anxiety” approximately half an hour ahead of its arrival on X with the single’s cover art, which features a mirrored black-and-white image of the TDE rapper being connected by her braids.

“Anxiety” has been trending on TikTok over the last couple of weeks, but Doechii performed the original version five years ago on her YouTube channel. The single samples Gotye‘s 2011 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring Kimbra.

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The Florida MC’s same growling chorus — “Anxiety/ Keep on trying me/ I feel it quietly/ Tryna silence me, yeah/ My anxiety/ Can’t shake it off of me/ Somebody’s watching me/ And my anxiety” — was used on Sleepy Hallow‘s “ANXIETY” track, featuring Doechii,” from his 2023 album Boy Meets World. The song hit No. 3 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 and No. 31 on Rhythmic Airplay.

Doechii has been on a roll this year. She won her first Grammy last month for best rap album, becoming the third woman to take home the trophy following Cardi B and Lauryn Hill. And “Denial is a River” from her critically acclaimed 2024 mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal became her highest-charting entry on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 21.

Listen to “Anxiety” below.

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AJR’s Adam Met Will Miss Live Performances This Year (For a Good Cause)

AJR is transitioning into just JR for 2025. The sibling trio took to social media on Tuesday (March 4) to announce that member Adam Met will be stepping away from live performances throughout the year to focus on his climate efforts.

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“We’re so proud of what he’s doing in this space,” the band wrote in their statement. “But because of that, he won’t be with AJR for all the live performances this year (butttt, he will definitely be popping in from time to time).”

However, the group assured fans that they can still expect “some very big things coming soon,” including new music and a “big announcement for this coming summer.”

Adam earned his PhD in human rights law and sustainable development from the University of Birmingham in 2021. He was included in the Time100 Climate list in 2024 thanks to his nonprofit, Planet Reimagined, which “connects young researchers with activists and policymakers to accelerate impactful climate solutions.”

In the corresponding interview, Met urged people to vote in their local elections to protect the climate’s future. “Climate is a global problem and a local problem. It must be addressed by the president and other world leaders, in classrooms, state houses, and everywhere in between. Voting in local elections is one of the most powerful actions we can take,” he said.

AJR’s last album was 2023’s The Maybe Man, which feature singles “I Won’t,” “The DJ Is Crying for Help,” “The Dumb Song” and more. The project peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

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Universal Music New Zealand Announces Leadership Changes as Managing Director Adam Holt Retires

There’s big changes afoot in the leadership team at Universal Music New Zealand, with longtime Managing Director and Chairman Adam Holt announcing his retirement.

News of the leadership transition was announced by Universal Music Australia & New Zealand President and CEO, Sean Warner on Tuesday, March. 4 (New Zealand time). Holt’s decision to retire comes after 24 years successfully leading the company, and 34 years spent at Universal Music Group and predecessor company Polygram. Holt’s retirement will take effect on April 30, with successors Myra Hemara and Matt Kidd being promoted to Co-Managing Directors, effective May 1.

“Adam’s commitment to our company, our artists, our people, and the greater New Zealand music industry has been nothing short of exemplary,” Warner said in a statement. “Throughout his tenure he consistently promoted a positive culture of both UMNZ and UMA garnering him enormous respect from both employees and artists alike. Adam is a passionate music man, caring mentor and consummate professional, who led from the front and made lifelong friends across the UMG, the artist community artists and with our partners around the world.”

“Leading the New Zealand company for UMG has been the experience of my life,” added Holt. “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and the challenges we have successfully navigated over the years, but it’s time for me and the company to start the next chapter. A big thank you to Sir Lucian Grainge and Sean for trusting me with UMNZ for so long, and a huge thank you to the entire Universal Music team across New Zealand and Australia. You are an amazing group of people and I will miss you immensely. Most importantly, thank you to all the artists I have had the honour to serve in my time at Universal. I remain in complete awe of you all.”

“I am thrilled to announce that the current UMNZ General Managers, Myra Hemara and Matt Kidd, will become the new Co-Managing Directors of the company,” Warner continued. “Matt and Myra have incredible experience within UMNZ and have been at the forefront of the changes we have made in New Zealand over the past couple of years, Together, with the support of UMNZ Chief Financial Officer & Commercial Director, Tony Jenks, they will form a strong executive leadership team that will drive a new era of success for Universal Music New Zealand.”

Hemara joined UMNZ in 2006, working on establishing their digital department and strategy upon her addition to the team. In 2017, Hemara was appointed General Manager, taking on the additional responsibilities of leading UMNZ’s international artist marketing and audience development teams.

Kidd, meanwhile, has been with UMNZ for the past 12 years, having begun his career in promotions and public relations before leading their domestic repertoire and business development teams. Since 2017, Kidd’s role as General Manager has seen him focus on exporting New Zealand talent on a global scale.

“Being given this opportunity to lead Universal Music New Zealand alongside Matt is a great privilege and honour,” Hemara said. “The legacy Adam has created for our artists and staff has provided an incredible foundation for Matt and I to build on. I’m looking forward to fostering a culture of connection, creativity and collaboration and delivering even more success for our incredibly talented artists.”

“Thank you to Sean for giving Myra and I the opportunity to lead this great company,” added Kidd. “It’s exciting to take on this new role at a thrilling point in the business, where the landscape and scope for how we can work with and develop our artists is changing dramatically. I’m beyond excited to be a part of the best team in the country and to continue driving excellence and innovation for our artists in New Zealand, and around the world.”

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Garth Brooks to Release ‘The Anthology Part V: The Comeback, The First Five Years’ in April

Garth Brooks will release The Anthology Part V: The Comeback, The First Five Years, the latest installment in his hardbound anthology series, on April 4.

Each part covers a specific era of Brooks’ career with the Part V focused on his return to the stage in 2014 after taking off more than a dozen years to raise his children. Though the superstar was uncertain how his first tour in over a decade would be received and if the audience would still be there, the tour went on to sell more than 6.2 million tickets over 391 shows.

The Anthology Part V, which will be available via Amazon and TalkShopLive, has six CDs comprising 66 songs, including seven live recordings and over 150 never before seen photos.

Brooks will launch Part V with a series of weekly conversations with bandmates and collaborators on TalkShopLive starting March 10 with drummer Mike Palmer, fiddle player Jimmy Mattingly and guitarist Chris Leuzinger.

That will be followed by Brooks’ conversation with his Anthology co-writer Warren Zanes on March 17 and singer/songwriter and back-up vocalist Karyn Rochelle on March 17; production manager Brian Petree and road manager Bryan Kennedy on March 24 and radio host Storme Warren and sound engineer Mark Miller on March 31. The final conversation will take place on April 4 with Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood.

The conversations will be simulcast on Amazon Live, GarthBrooks.com, both of which will be shoppable opportunities, as well as on The Garth Channel on the Sevens Radio Network.

Part V comes four months following Part IV: Going Home, which covered Brooks’ 14-year hiatus.

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Daryl Hall Says There’s No Hope of a Reunion With John Oates

Fans hoping for a future reunion announcement from Hall & Oates needn’t hold their breath, with Daryl Hall claiming such a possibility will never happen.

Hall made his recent comments in an interview with The Times, where he reflected on the “betrayal” he felt from longtime bandmate John Oates that soon led to a lawsuit which split the pair. When asked about whether the enduring pop-rock duo could ever reunite, Hall was concise in his response.

“That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean,” he explained. “I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so I’m kind of used to it.” Though he didn’t elaborate on the latter, he did allude to having “been involved with some pretty shady characters over the years.”

The Hall & Oates dissolution first began back in November 2023 when the pair became embroiled in a legal dispute. Described by Oates as “a very boring business issue,” the crux of the issue began when Hall filed suit against his former partner over Oates’ attempt to sell his half of the duo’s joint venture Whole Oates Enterprises to Primary Wave Music without Hall’s consent.

Though Hall still isn’t able to speak to the specifics of their legal showdown, both men agreed in 2024 that their creative partnership was over.

“John and I did not have a creative relationship for decades; the last song I wrote with John was in 2000 and that was with somebody else,” Hall told Billboard in June 2024. “We toured and we toured and we toured, and it was very restrictive to me, and to John. The real truth of it all is John just said one day he didn’t want to do it anymore. I said ‘OK,’ but the problem is (Oates) didn’t make the parting and breakup easy, and that’s where the difficulties lay and still lay, and that’s all it is.

“I always say I’ve been a solo artist my whole life, I was just working with John, mostly.”

Having first formed in 1970, the Pennsylvania performers rose to fame throughout the ‘70s thanks to albums such as 1976’s Bigger Than Both of Us, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned their first single to top the Hot 100, “Rich Girl.”

The duo reached their commercial zenith in the early ’80s, where albums such as Voices, Private Eyes, and H2O all went Platinum, with the latter giving them their highest album peak, hitting No. 3. Across two years, Hall & Oates would chart atop the Hot 100 four times thanks to “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” and “Maneater.” They’d nab their final chart-topper with 1984’s “Out of Touch.”

Despite not splitting until 2024, Hall & Oates’ last studio album arrived 18 years earlier by way of Home for Christmas. Their last full album of original material was 2003’s Do It for Love.

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Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante ‘Extremely Disappointed’ After Unapproved Single Release

As Spiritbox prepare to release their second album, vocalist Courtney LaPlante has gone on record to decry the unapproved release of their latest single.

The news comes just days away from the arrival of Tsunami Sea, Spritbox’s new record which is currently scheduled to drop on Friday (March 7) via the band’s own Pale Chords label and Rise Records. The album has been previewed since September, with the release of first single, “Soft Spine.” In November, this was followed by “Perfect Soul,” and again in February with the release of “No Loss, No Love.”

Eager fans of the band may, however, have noticed the release of a new single titled “Crystal Roses” appearing on streaming services on Monday (March 3). According to a post shared on social media by LaPlante, issuing a new single in the week of the album’s release was not part of their approved rollout plan.

“I don’t normally like to air out behind the scenes things like this, but we did not approve putting out another single today,” LaPlante wrote. “None of us were aware this was happening. I am extremely disappointed and only found out about it late last night, by chance. Trying to take it down asap.”

“Crystal Roses” has since been removed from streaming services, with only the previously-released singles available for listening ahead of the album’s official release.

This isn’t the first mishap which has befallen Spiritbox in recent months, with the band having recently been thrust into the spotlight thanks to a case of mistaken identity.

Appearing at the Grammys on Feb. 2 where the band were nominated in the best metal performance category, LaPlante spoke to an interviewer who had mistaken her for Poppy (whose “Suffocate” collaboration with Knocked Loose was up for the same award). Offering a slightly confused look to the off-camera interviewer, LaPlante decided instead to roll with it and continued the conversation as her fellow nominee.

“I am Poppy, and I am really happy to be here, nominated with Knocked Loose,” LaPlante replied slyly. “I really hope we win.”

Noting she had just finished chatting to Judas Priest, the interviewer went on to mention it wasn’t Poppy’s first time being nominated, referencing her nod for “Bloodmoney” in 2021.

“Really happy to be here again, would love to take home the Grammy for Knocked Loose and myself because I would be the first woman to win this award,” LaPlante added. “I actually haven’t looked at [how many women have been nominated previously] but I just always know that it’s time for one of us to win. I hope it’s me, or Spiritbox and Courtney.”

Ultimately, the award was won by French band Gojira, whose performance of “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” (as heard at the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony) was a collaboration with Swiss soprano Marina Viotti and Victor Le Masne.

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Inside the 2025 Oscars: Our View From the Crowd for 007 Music Tribute, ‘Wicked’ Show Opener & More

The Oscars might be the biggest night for the film industry, but the 2025 awards show included some pretty epic music moments as well.

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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo backstage at the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California.

6 Best 2025 Oscars Music Moments You Didn’t See on TV

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie tells Keith all about her night inside the Dolby Theatre for the 97th Academy Awards, where the Wicked duo of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the show; LISA, Doja Cat and RAYE teamed up for a three-part tribute to the music of James Bond; and Queen Latifah paid joyful tribute to Quincy Jones. And that was just the performances — there was also Mick Jagger, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez presenting awards and more music tucked into the four-hour telecast.

Listen to the latest episode to hear all about it:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Tate McRae lands her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as So Close To What debuts atop the tally — and with the biggest debut for a studio album by a woman in five months. Plus, the legendary James Brown returns to Billboard’s charts in a most unexpected way.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

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Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s Husband of Nearly 60 Years, Dies at 82

Carl Dean, a Nashville businessman and beloved husband of Dolly Parton for nearly 60 years, died on Monday (March 3). He was 82 years old.

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The news of his death was announced via Parton’s Instagram page, along with a statement from the country superstar. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” the statement reads. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”

The statement ends with requests for privacy from the family. A cause of death has yet to be revealed.

The comment section of the post is filled with messages of love for Parton from stars like Lainey Wilson, Diplo, Andy Cohen, The Head and the Heart and many more.

Dean and Parton met outside a laundromat in Nashville as young adults, the same day Parton arrived in Music City at 18 years old to pursue her dreams of a music career (at that point, Parton had released a handful of non-charting singles; she first entered the Hot Country Songs chart with “Dumb Blonde” not long after their marriage).

“We had the car radio on,” Parton told Billboard of the day she met Dean. “I don’t remember what it was playing, but it was loud and it was rock ’n roll.”

Parton and Dean wed on May 30, 1966 in Ringgold, Georgia. They renewed their vows in Nashville on their 50th anniversary in 2016.

Dean has famously been averse to the spotlight. Only rarely do photographs of the couple emerge, and Parton has said that Dean has only ever seen her perform live once. At various times during her career, she has even had to debunk rumors that her husband doesn’t exist. “A lot of people have thought that through the years, because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all,” Parton told Entertainment Tonight during an interview in 2020.

Parton recently discussed her relationship with Dean during an interview with Bunnie XO on the latter’s Dumb Blonde podcast in December, sharing the secret to their long-lasting marriage. “He’s quiet and I’m loud, and we’re funny,” she explained. “Oh, he’s hilarious. And I think one of the things that’s made it last so long through the years is that we love each other [and] we respect each other, but we have a lot of fun.”

She added, “Anytime [there’s] too much tension going on, either one of us can like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don’t let it go so far. We never fought back and forth. And I’m glad now that we never did, because once you start that, that becomes a lifetime thing.”

Dean is survived by Parton and his two siblings, Sandra and Donnie.

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