The NAACP Image Awards is ready to dole out shiny new trophies to honour the trove of Black excellence that made 2021 so special. The annual awards show highlights the achievements of people of colour across television, music, literature and film, and the promotion of social justice through their creative endeavors.
This year’s NAACP Image Awards class is even more of a star-studded list than ever, with nominations for everyone from Megan Thee Stallion to Jonathan Majors, Ariana DeBose, Marsai Martin, Denzel Washington and more. There are also plenty of sweet first-timers (William Jackson Harper earned a double nod for his roles in Love Life and “The Underground Railroad”) and a few startling omissions. (No love for RuPaul again?)
Additionally, Samuel L. Jackson will be presented with the NAACP Chairman’s Award and Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project, will be receive the Social Justice Impact Award.
As for who fans can expect to see at the ceremony, Mary J. Blige is set to perform, while Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, LL Cool J, Morgan Freeman, Questlove, Tiffany Haddish, and Zendaya will be presenting.
Winners will be revealed during the two-hour special, hosted by seven-time NAACP Image Awards winner Anthony Anderson, on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8/7c on BET.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish
Motion Picture
OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“King Richard”
“Respect”
“The Harder They Fall”
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Jonathan Majors, “The Harder They Fall”
LaKeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Mahershala Ali, “Swan Song”
Will Smith, “King Richard”
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Halle Berry, “Bruised”
Jennifer Hudson, “Respect”
Tessa Thompson, “Passing”
Zendaya, “Malcolm & Marie”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Algee Smith, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Delroy Lindo, “The Harder They Fall”
Idris Elba, “The Harder They Fall”
LaKeith Stanfield, “The Harder They Fall”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
Danielle Deadwyler, “The Harder They Fall”
Dominique Fishback, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Regina King, “The Harder They Fall”
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“American Skin”
“Bruised”
“CODA”
“Test Pattern”
“The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“7 Prisoners”
“African America”
“Eyimofe (This is My Desire)”
“Flee”
“The Gravedigger’s Wife”
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
Danny Boyd, Jr., “Bruised”
Jalon Christian, “A Journal For Jordan”
Lonnie Chavis, “The Water Man”
Sheila Atim, “Bruised”
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“Coming 2 America”
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“King Richard”
“Respect”
“The Harder They Fall”
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“Encanto”
“Luca”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
“Sing 2”
“Vivo”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture
Andre Braugher, “Spirit Untamed”
Awkwafina, “Raya and the Last Dragon”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Vivo”
Eric André, “Sing 2”
Letitia Wright, “Sing 2”
Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)
“Aurinko in Adagio”
“Blackout”
“The Ice Cream Stop”
“These Final Hours”
“When The Sun Sets (Lakutshon’ Ilanga)”
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)
“Blush”
“Robin Robin”
“She Dreams at Sunrise”
“Twenty Something”
“Us Again”
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, “Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”
Jamila Wignot, “Ailey”
Jeymes Samuel, “The Harder They Fall”
Liesl Tommy, “Respect”
Rebecca Hall, “Passing”
TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
“black-ish”
“Harlem”
“Insecure”
“Run the World”
“The Upshaws”
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
Cedric the Entertainer, “The Neighborhood”
Don Cheadle, “Black Monday”
Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams, “The Wonder Years”
Jay Ellis, “Insecure”
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae, “Insecure”
Loretta Devine, “Family Reunion”
Regina Hall, “Black Monday”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Yvonne Orji, “Insecure”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Deon Cole, “black-ish”
Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Kendrick Sampson, “Insecure”
Laurence Fishburne, “black-ish”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Amanda Seales, “Insecure”
Jenifer Lewis, ‘black-ish”
Marsai Martin, “black-ish”
Natasha Rothwell, “Insecure”
Wanda Sykes, “The Upshaws”
Outstanding Drama Series
“9-1-1”
“All American”
“Pose”
“Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Billy Porter, “Pose”
Damson Idris, “Snowfall”
Forest Whitaker, “Godfather of Harlem”
Kofi Siriboe, “Queen Sugar”
Sterling K. Brown, “This is Us”
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett, “9-1-1”
Dawn-Lyen Gardner, “Queen Sugar”
Octavia Spencer, “Truth Be Told”
Queen Latifah, “The Equalizer”
Rutina Wesley, “Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alex R. Hibbert, “The Chi”
Cliff “Method Man” Smith, “Power Book II: Ghost”
Daniel Ezra, “All American”
Giancarlo Esposito, “Godfather of Harlem”
Joe Morton, “Our Kind of People”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Alfre Woodard, “SEE”
Bianca Lawson, “Queen Sugar”
Chandra Wilson, “Grey’s Anatomy”
Mary J. Blige, “Power Book II: Ghost”
Susan Kelechi Watson, “This is Us”
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
“Colin in Black & White”
“Genius: Aretha”
“Love Life”
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
“The Underground Railroad”
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Anthony Mackie, “Solos”
Jaden Michael, “Colin in Black & White”
Kevin Har, “True Story”
Wesley Snipes, “True Story”
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Betty Gabriel, “Clickbait”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Danielle Brooks, “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
Jodie Turner-Smith, “Anne Boleyn”
Taraji P. Henson, “Annie Live!”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Courtney B. Vance, “Genius: Aretha”
Keith David, “Black As Night”
Tituss Burgess, “Annie Live!”
Will Catlett, “True Story”
William Jackson Harper, “The Underground Railroad”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Anika Noni Rose, “Maid”
Natasha Rothwell, “The White Lotus”
Pauletta Washington, “Genius: Aretha”
Regina Hall, “Nine Perfect Strangers”
Sheila Atim, “The Underground Railroad”
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“Blood on Black Wall Street: The Legacy of the Tulsa Massacre”
“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt”
“Soul of A Nation”
“The Reidout”
“Unsung”
Outstanding Talk Series
“Desus & Mero”
“Hart to Heart”
“Red Table Talk”
“Tamron Hall”
“The Real”
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
“Celebrity Family Feud”
“Iyanla: Fix My Life”
“Sweet Life: Los Angeles”
“The Voice”
“Wild ‘n Out”
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
“A Black Lady Sketch Show”
“BET Awards 2021”
“Dave Chappelle: The Closer”
“Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3”
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Ada Twist, Scientist”
“Family Reunion”
“Karma’s World”
“Raven’s Home”
“Waffles + Mochi”
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Alayah “Lay Lay” High, “That Girl Lay Lay”
Celina Smith, “Annie Live!”
Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams, “The Wonder Years”
Eris Baker, “This Is Us”
Miles Brown, “black-ish”
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Joy Reid, “The Reidout”
Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker, Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez, “Desus & Mero”
Garcelle Beauvais, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai Jenkins, “The Real”
Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith, “Red Table Talk”
LeBron James, The Shop: “Uninterrupted”
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Alfonso Ribeiro, “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
Amber Ruffin, “The Amber Ruffin Show”
Cedric The Entertainer, “73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards”
Iyanla Vanzant, “Iyanla: Fix My Life”
Trevor Noah, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”
Outstanding Guest Performance
Alani “La La” Anthony, “The Chi”
Christina Elmore, “Insecure”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Saturday Night Live”
Erika Alexander, “Run the World”
Maya Rudolph, “Saturday Night Live”
Outstanding Animated Series
“Big Mouth”
“Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz”
“Super Sema”
“We The People”
“Yasuke”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Angela Bassett, “Malika: The Lion Queen”
Billy Porter, “Fairfax”
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, “Karma’s World”
Cree Summer, “Rugrats”
Keke Palmer, “Big Mouth”
Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama
“Between the Scenes – The Daily Show”
“Dark Humor”
“Della Mae”
“The Disney Launchpad: Shorts Incubator”
“Two Sides: Unfaithful”
Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction
“Life By The Horns”
“Memory Builds The Monument”
“Widen the Screen: 8:46 Films”
“Through Our Eyes: Shelter”
“Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day”
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Angel Kristi Williams, “Colin in Black & White”
Cierra Glaude, “Queen Sugar”
Deborah Riley Draper, “The Legacy of Black Wall Street”
Halcyon Person, “Karma’s World”
Quyen Tran, “Maid”
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist
Cynthia Erivo
Jimmie Allen
Saweetie
Tems
Zoe Wees
Outstanding Male Artist
Anthony Hamilton
Drake
Givēon
J. Cole
Lil Nas X
Outstanding Female Artist
H.E.R
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Chlöe
Jazmine Sullivan
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
Anthems & Glory – Todd Dulaney
Believe For It – CeCe Winans
Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. – Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music
Overcomer – Tamela Mann
Power – Jason McGee & The Choir
Outstanding International Song
“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber
“Peru” – Fireboy DML
“Somebody’s Son” – Tiwa Savage feat. Brandy
“Touch It” – KiDi
“Understand” – Omah Lay
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems
“Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic
Outstanding Album
An Evening with Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
Back of My Mind – H.E.R.
Certified Lover Boy – Drake
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time – Givēon
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Coming 2 America (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Eddie Murphy, Craig Brewer, Kevin Misher, Randy Spendlove, Jeff Harleston, Brittney Ramsdell
Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Mark Isham and Craig Harris
Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Jason Michael Webb and Stephen Bray
The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) – JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) – Salaam Remi, Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq, Warren “E” Felder, Downtown Trevor Brown
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Believe For It” – CeCe Winans
“Help Me” – Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas
“Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” – H.E.R. and Tauren Wells
“Overcome 2021” – Kirk Franklin
“Time for Reparations” – Sounds of Blackness
Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental
Forever…Jaz – Jazmin Ghent
Love Languages – Nathan Mitchell
Somewhere Different – Brandee Younger
Sounds from the Ancestors – Kenny Garrett
The Magic of Now – Orrin Evans
Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal
Dear Love – Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force
Generations – The Baylor Project
Ledisi Sings Nina – Ledisi
Let There Be Love – Freda Payne
SALSWING! – Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Damage” – H.E.R.
“Be Alive” – Beyoncé
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic
“Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
“Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
“My Life” – J. Cole feat. 21 Savage and Morray
“Way 2 Sexy” – Drake
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Anthony Hamilton feat. Jennifer Hudson – “Superstar”
Chlöe x Halle – “Georgia On My Mind”
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. – “Girl Like Me”
Leela James feat. Anthony Hamilton – “Complicated (Remix)”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Chris Brown feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk and Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown – “Come Through”
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe – “Fye Fye”
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Attica”
“Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power”
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)”
“Tina”
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything”
“American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free”
“Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali”
“High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America”
“Insecure Documentary”
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Ashley Nicole Black – “Ted Lasso” – “Do the Right-est Thing”
Issa Rae – “Insecure” -“Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?!”
Leann Bowen – “Ted Lasso” – “Lavender”
Maya Erskine – “Pen15” – “Blue in Green”
Temi Wilkey – “Sex Education” – “Episode #3.6”
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Aurin Squire – “Evil – “C Is For Cop”
Davita Scarlett – “The Good Fight” – “And the Firm Had Two Partners…”
Malcolm Spellman – “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” – “New World Order”
Nkechi Okoro Carroll – “All American” – “Homecoming”
Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy – “Pose” – “Series Finale”
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Abdul Williams – “Salt-N-Pepa”
Mario Miscione, Marcella Ochoa – “Madres”
Monique N. Matthew – “A Holiday In Harlem”
Sherman Payne – “Black As Night”
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris – “Zola”
Jeymes Samuel, Boaz Yakin – “The Harder They Fall”
Shaka King, Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas – “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Virgil Williams – “A Journal for Jordan”
Win Rosenfeld, Nia DaCosta, Jordan Peele – “Candyman”
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle – “South Side” – “Tornado”
Melina Matsoukas – “Insecure” – “Reunited, Okay?!”
Neema Barnette – “Harlem” – “Once Upon A Time in Harlem”
Prentice Penny – “Insecure” – “Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?!”
Tiffany Johnson – “Black Monday” – “Eight!”
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Anthony Hemingway – “Genius: Aretha” – “Respect”
Barry Jenkins – “The Underground Railroad” – “Indiana Winter”
Carl Seaton – “Snowfall” – “Fight or Flight”
Carl Seaton – “Godfather of Harlem” – “The Bonanno Split”
Hanelle Culpepper – “True Story” – “Like Cain Did Abel”
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Jaffar Mahmood – “Hot Mess Holiday”
Kenny Leon – “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”
Mario Van Peebles – “Salt-N-Pepa”
Maritte Lee Go – “Black As Night”
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington – “A Journal for Jordan”
Jeymes Samuel – “The Harder They Fall”
Lin-Manuel Miranda – “tick tick…BOOM!”
Reinaldo Marcus Green – “King Richard”
Shaka King – “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Andre Gaines – “The One and Only Dick Gregory”
Dawn Porter – “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer”
Sam Pollard – “MLK/FBI”
Samantha Knowles, Yoruba Richen, Geeta Gandbhir, Nadia Hallgren – “Black and Missing”
Spike Lee – “NYC Epicenters 9/11➔2021½”
LITERARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
Harlem Shuffle – Colson Whitehead
Libertie – Kaitlyn Greenidge
Long Division – Kiese Laymon
The Man Who Lived Underground – Richard Wright
The Perishing – Natashia Deón
Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
Dance Theatre of Harlem – Judy Tyrus, Paul Novosel
Just As I Am – Cicely Tyson
My Remarkable Journey – Katherine Johnson
Renegades: Born in the USA – Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story – Nikole Hannah-Jones
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Just As I Am – Cicely Tyson
My Remarkable Journey – Katherine Johnson
Other Black Girl: A Novel – Zakiya Dalila Harris
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois – Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts – Rebecca Hal
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
Just As I Am – Cicely Tyson
Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement – Tarana Burke
Unprotected: A Memoir – Billy Porter
Until I Am Free – Keisha Blain
Will – Will Smith
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
Diversity Is Not Enough: A Roadmap to Recruit, Develop and Promote Black Leaders in America – Keith Wyche
Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business) – Tabitha Brown
Permission to Dream – Chris Gardner
Teaching Black History to White People – Leonard N. Moore
The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations – Robert Livingston
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
Perfect Black – Crystal Wilkinson
Playlist for the Apocalypse – Rita Dove
Such Color: New and Selected Poems – Tracy K. Smith
The Wild Fox of Yemen – Threa Almontaser
What Water Knows: Poems – Jacqueline Jones LaMon
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy – Misty Copeland
Stacey’s Extraordinary Words – Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas
Time for Bed, Old House – Janet Costa Bates, A.G. Ford
When Langston Dances – Kaija Langley, Keith Mallett
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
Ace of Spades – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Happily Ever Afters – Elise Bryant
The Cost of Knowing – Brittney Morris
When You Look Like Us – Pamela N. Harris
Wings of Ebony – J. Elle
PODCAST CATEGORIES
Outstanding News and Information Podcast
“#SundayCivics”
“After the Uprising: The Death of Danyé Dion Jones”
“Blindspot: Tulsa Burning”
“Into America”
“Un(re)solved”
Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast
“Checking In with Michelle Williams”
“The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema”
“The SonRise Project Podcast”
“Two Funny Mamas: Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley”
“Under Construction w/ Tamar Braxton”
Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
“Beyond the Scenes – The Daily Show”
“Jemele Hill is Unbothered”
“Professional Troublemaker”
“Questlove Supreme”
“Super Soul Podcast”
Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast
“Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe”
“Jemele Hill is Unbothered”
“Questlove Supreme”
“Reasonably Shady”
“The History of Sketch Comedy with Keegan-Michael Key”
SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
@Euniquejg – Eunique Jones GIbson
@KevOnStage – Kevin Fredericks
@Laronhinesofficial – Laron Hines
@_Lyneezy – Lanae Vanee
@Terrellgrice – Terrell Grice
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