53rd NAACP Image Awards Nominees Announced
42 The NAACP has announced the nominees for its 53rd Image Awards.
In the music field, H.E.R. leads with six nominations, including Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Album (Back of My Mind) and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song (“Damage”).
Jazmine Sullivan gained four nods, including Outstanding Album (Heaux Tales) and Outstanding Female Artist. Silk Sonic and Anthony Hamilton scored three nominations each.
R&B acts made a presence outside of music, as well. In the Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast category, Michelle Williams and Tamar Braxton both earned a nomination for their respective podcasts.
“We are thrilled to recognize this year’s nominees, who have all brought dynamic, entertaining, and thought provoking content to our attention through their incredible work in film, television, music and more,” said Karen Boykin-Towns, chairman of the Image Awards committee.
BET’s President/CEO Scott Mills added, “The BET team is immensely proud to continue our partnership with the NAACP and the annual Image Awards, underpinning our longstanding legacy of celebrating Black Excellence.
It is an extraordinary privilege to provide our unparalleled platforms to recognize the vast contributions of Black creators, in a way that only BET, and NAACP can.”
Hosted by Anthony Anderson, the 53rd NAACP Image Awards will air on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. EST on BET.
Internationally, the show will air on BET Africa at 20:00 CAT on Feb. 27, followed by BET France on March 2, at 8:45 p.m. CEST. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the UK beginning March 1.
Outstanding Female Artist
H.E.R.
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Chlöe
Jazmine Sullivan
Outstanding Male Artist
Anthony Hamilton
Drake
Giveon
J. Cole
Lil Nas X
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 Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Anthony Hamilton feat. Jennifer Hudson — “Superstar”
Chloe 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 and Young Thug — “Way 2 Sexy”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown — “Come Through”
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe — “Fye Fye”
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 — Giveon
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 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 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 Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Coming 2 America (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Eddie Murphy, Craig Brewer, Kevin Misher,Randy Spendlove, Jeff Harleston, Brittney Ramsdell (Def Jam Recordings)
Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Mark Isham and Craig Harris (WaterTower Music)
Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Jason Michael Webb and Stephen Bray (Epic Records)
The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) – JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel (Geneva Club / Roc Nation Records, LLC)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) – Salaam Remi, Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq, Warren “E” Felder, Downtown Trevor Brown (Warner Records)
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 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 with Tamar Braxton
Entertainer of the Year
Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Andra Day — The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films)
Halle Berry — Bruised (Netflix)
Jennifer Hudson — Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Tessa Thompson — Passing (Netflix)
Zendaya — Malcolm & Marie (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Alfre Woodard —See (Apple TV+)
Bianca Lawson — Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Chandra Wilson— Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Mary J. Blige — Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
Susan Kelechi Watson — This is Us (NBC)