Watch a live video stream of President Obama’s Oval Office address on the BP Gulf Coast disaster tonight at 8 p.m. on BET.com.

BET Networks’ Centric will broadcast the speech on TV at the same time as well.

For the first time, the President will speak to the nation from the Oval Office. The setting of his message is expected to add weight to the subject of the all-important address and offset criticisms of his administration’s response to the crisis.

The President will let victims of the spill know that he has directed BP to establish a fund to compensate them for losses due to the disaster; he will promise to restore the ecology of the Gulf Coast; and he will set the stage for upcoming legislation on Energy reform.

The President is scheduled meet with officials from BP on Wednesday.

Visit BET.com tonight at 8 p.m. to catch the live stream of President Obama’s speech or watch it on TV on BET’s Centric network.

Watch the live video stream on BET.com here.

This week, the BET Networks family celebrated the life of Lena Horne with video tributes, photo galleries, blog tributes and “10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Lena Horne. You can leave your comments, memories and condolences, too.

We paused to remember her personal elegance and style, but more importantly, her invaluable contribution to American arts and culture, and her commitment to human rights and justice.

Did you know that Lena Horne was the youngest member to join the NAACP ever? At 14-months-old her grandmother signed her up. Check out Amy Goodman’s blog at Democracy Now for more on Lena Horne and her social and political activism.

Her incredible talent, radiant beauty and single-minded determination enabled her to soar to heights unreached by other Black entertainers at the time. But she did not allow the trappings of success steer her away from doing what was right; standing up for civil rights and attaching her star to the 1960s Civil Rights movement and the activism in the 1940s and ‘50s that led up to it.

So, while its important to say farewell to Horne with touching tributes its more important to emulate all that was noble, elevating and courageous about the singer, actress and activist.

Thank you for all you did and goodbye, Lena Horne.

Side Note: Remember when Lena Horne was a guest star on The Cosby show?  The whole Huxtable family went out to see her and met with her backstage. One of the great things about The Cosby Show was the way it leveraged its popularity to introduce younger audiences – and the world as a whole – to under-appreciated icons like Horne, who deserved our admiration and respect.

What perhaps may be the defining moment of Barack Obama’s presidency will be aired live on Centric and BET.com.

BET host Jeff Johnson along with BET.com political blogger Pamela Gentry will bring you live coverage from the U.S Military Academy at West Point as the President lays out his strategy to win the conflict in Afghanistan during a primetime speech beginning at 8:00pm Tuesday.

BET viewers can either watch the speech on CENTRIC or follow a live stream on BET.com.

What are your thoughts on Afghanistan? Should American troops pull out? Do you believe in the mission? Do you have a family member or friend fighting in Afghanistan? Share your thoughts here.

Were you paying attention this week?

BET News Quiz: A football league eyes jailed quarterback Michael Vick; rappers mix it up backstage; minorities are rapidly becoming the majority. Take the quiz here!