The nominations for the NAACP Image Awards have been announced, featuring prominent names such as Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, multi-talented Keke Palmer, rapper Kendrick Lamar, comedian Kevin Hart, and NFL Hall of Famer-turned-broadcaster Shannon Sharpe, all vying for the coveted Entertainer of the Year title.
The winner will be revealed during a live two-hour broadcast of the 56th NAACP Image Awards on February 22, airing from the Pasadena Civic Center on BET and CBS. This year's show carries the theme, "Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Excellence." While the host has not yet been confirmed, Queen Latifah has previously hosted the past two ceremonies.
The Piano Lesson leads the motion picture nominations with 14 nods, including recognition for director Malcolm Washington and actors John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Corey Hawkins, and Skylar Aleece Smith. The Netflix film has been nominated for Outstanding Motion Picture, alongside Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Paramount’s Bob Marley: One Love, Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight, and Universal’s Wicked.
Full list:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Kendrick Lamar
Kevin Hart
Shannon Sharpe
OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Kai Cenat
Keith Lee
RaeShanda Lias
Shirley Raines
Tony Baker
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Motion Picture
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” (Sony Pictures)
“Bob Marley: One Love” (Paramount Pictures)
“The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
“The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
“Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
André Holland — “Exhibiting Forgiveness” (Roadside Attractions)
Colman Domingo — “Sing Sing” (A24)
John David Washington — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Kingsley Ben-Adir — “Bob Marley: One Love” (Paramount Pictures)
Martin Lawrence — “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” (Sony Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Cynthia Erivo — “Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
Kerry Washington — “The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
Lashana Lynch — “Bob Marley: One Love” (Paramount Pictures)
Lupita Nyong’o — “A Quiet Place: Day One” (Paramount Pictures)
Regina King — “Shirley” (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Brian Tyree Henry — “The Fire Inside” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Corey Hawkins — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
David Alan Grier — “The American Society of Magical Negroes” (Focus Features)
Denzel Washington — “Gladiator II” (Paramount Pictures)
Samuel L. Jackson — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “Exhibiting Forgiveness” (Roadside Attractions)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Danielle Deadwyler — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Ebony Obsidian — “The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
Lynn Whitfield — “Albany Road” (Faith Filmworks)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Albany Road” (Faith Filmworks)
“Exhibiting Forgiveness” (Roadside Attractions)
“Rob Peace” (Republic Pictures)
“Sing Sing” (A24)
“We Grown Now” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“El lugar de la otra” (Netflix)
“Emilia Pérez” (Netflix)
“Memoir of a Snail” (IFC Films)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (NEON)
“The Wall Street Boy, Kipkemboi” (ArtMattan Films)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Brandon Wilson — “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Clarence Maclin — “Sing Sing” (A24)
Danielle Deadwyler — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Ebony Obsidian — “The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
Ryan Destiny — “The Fire Inside” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“Bob Marley: One Love” (Paramount Pictures)
“The Book of Clarence” (Sony Pictures)
“The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
“The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
“Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“Inside Out 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
“Kung Fu Panda 4” (DreamWorks Animation)
“Moana 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
“Piece by Piece” (Focus Features)
“The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
Outstanding Character Voiceover Performance – Motion Picture
Aaron Pierre — “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Anika Noni Rose — “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Ayo Edebiri — “Inside Out 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Blue Ivy Carter — “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Lupita Nyong’o — “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks Animation)
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
“Chocolate with Sprinkles” (AFI)
“Definitely Not a Monster”
“If They Took Us Back”
“My Brother & Me” (MeowBark Films)
“Superman Doesn’t Steal”
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
“if(fy)” (OTB/The Hidden Hand Studios)
“Nate & John” (Unity Animation Project, LLC)
“Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz ‘Jackie Robinson'” (Exhibit Treal Studios)
“Self” (Pixar Animation Studios)
“Walk in the Light” (419 Studios)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
David Fortune — “Color Book” (Tribeca Studios)
Malcolm Washington — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
RaMell Ross — “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Titus Kaphar — “Exhibiting Forgiveness” (Roadside Attractions)
Zoë Kravitz — “Blink Twice” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture
Anthony B. Jenkins — “The Deliverance” (Netflix)
Blake Cameron James — “We Grown Now” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Jeremiah Daniels — “Color Book” (Tribeca Studios)
Percy Daggs IV — “Never Let Go” (Lionsgate)
Skylar Aleece Smith — “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
Andrés Arochi — “Longlegs” (NEON)
Jomo Fray — “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Justin Derry — “She Taught Love” (Andscape)
Lachlan Milne — “Exhibiting Forgiveness” (Roadside Attractions)
Rob Hardy — “The Book of Clarence” (Sony Pictures)
TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“How to Die Alone” (Hulu)
“Poppa’s House” (CBS)
“The Neighborhood” (CBS)
“The Upshaws” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer — “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Damon Wayans — “Poppa’s House” (CBS)
David Alan Grier — “St. Denis Medical” (NBC)
Delroy Lindo — “UnPrisoned” (Hulu)
Mike Epps — “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
Kerry Washington — “UnPrisoned” (Hulu)
Natasha Rothwell — “How to Die Alone” (Hulu)
Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Tichina Arnold — “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Damon Wayans Jr. — “Poppa’s House” (CBS)
Giancarlo Esposito — “The Gentlemen” (Netflix)
Kenan Thompson — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Tyler James Williams — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
William Stanford Davis — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Danielle Pinnock — “Ghosts” (CBS)
Ego Nwodim — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Janelle James — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Wanda Sykes — “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
Outstanding Drama Series
“9-1-1” (ABC)
“Bel-Air” (Peacock)
“Cross” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Found” (NBC)
“Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Aldis Hodge — “Cross” (Amazon Prime Video)
Donald Glover — “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (Amazon Prime Video)
Harold Perrineau — “From” (MGM+)
Jabari Banks — “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Michael Rainey Jr. — “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett — “9-1-1” (ABC)
Emayatzy Corinealdi — “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
Queen Latifah — “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Shanola Hampton — “Found” (NBC)
Zoe Saldaña — “Lioness” (Paramount+)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes — “Bel-Air” (Netflix)
Cliff “Method Man” Smith — “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz)
Isaiah Mustafa — “Cross” (Amazon Prime Video)
Jacob Latimore — “The Chi” (Paramount+)
Morris Chestnut — “Reasonable Doubt” (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh — “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Coco Jones — “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Golda Rosheuvel — “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Lorraine Toussaint — “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Lynn Whitfield — “The Chi” (Paramount+)
Outstanding Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
“Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
“Genius: MLK/X” (National Geographic)
“Griselda” (Netflix)
“Rebel Ridge” (Netflix)
“The Madness” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Aaron Pierre — “Rebel Ridge” (Netflix)
Colman Domingo — “The Madness” (Netflix)
Kelvin Harrison Jr. — “Genius: MLK/X” (National Geographic)
Kevin Hart — “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Laurence Fishburne — “Clipped” (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)
Naturi Naughton — “Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie” (Lifetime)
Sanaa Lathan — “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)
Sofía Vergara — “Griselda” (Netflix)
Uzo Aduba — “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu/Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Don Cheadle — “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Luke James — “Them: The Scare” (Amazon Prime Video)
Ron Cephas Jones — “Genius: MLK/X” (National Geographic)
Samuel L. Jackson — “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Terrence Howard — “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Brandy Norwood — “Descendants: The Rise of Red” (Disney+)
Jayme Lawson — “Genius: MLK/X” (National Geographic)
Loretta Devine — “Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love” (Lifetime)
Sanaa Lathan — “Young. Wild. Free.” (BET+)
Taraji P. Henson — “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“Black Men’s Summit” (BET Media Group)
“Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” (PBS)
“Laura Coates Live” (CNN)
“NewsNight with Abby Phillip” (CNN)
“The ReidOut” (MSNBC)
Outstanding Talk Series
“Hart to Heart” (Peacock)
“Sherri” (Syndicated)
“Tamron Hall Show” (Syndicated)
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syndicated)
“The Shop” Season 7 (YouTube)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
“Password” (NBC)
“Rhythm + Flow” (Netflix)
“The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo)
“Tia Mowry: My Next Act” (WeTV)
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
“BET Awards 2024” (BET Media Group)
“Deon Cole: Ok, Mister” (Netflix)
“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” (Netflix)
“Katt Williams: Woke Foke” (Netflix)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Craig of the Creek” (Cartoon Network)
“Descendants: The Rise of Red” (Disney+)
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
“Sesame Street” (Max)
“Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)
Caleb Elijah — “Cross” (Amazon Prime Video)
Graceyn Hollingsworth — “Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Leah Sava Jeffries — “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)
Melody Hurd — “Cross” (Amazon Prime Video)
TJ Mixson — “The Madness” (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Abby Phillip — “NewsNight with Abby Phillip” (CNN)
Henry Louis Gates Jr. — “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” (PBS)
Jennifer Hudson — “The Jennifer Hudson” (Syndicated)
Joy Reid — “The Reidout” (MSNBC)
Sherri Shepherd — “Sherri” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) –
Individual or Ensemble
Alfonso Ribeiro — “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)
Keke Palmer — “Password” (NBC)
Nick Cannon — “The Masked Singer” (FOX)
Steve Harvey — “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Taraji P. Henson — “BET Awards 2024” (BET Media Group)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Ayo Edebiri — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Cree Summer — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Keegan-Michael Key — “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Marlon Wayans — “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Maya Rudolph — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Outstanding Animated Series
“Disney Jr.’s Ariel” (Disney Jr.)
“Everybody Still Hates Chris” (Comedy Central)
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
“Iwájú” (Disney+)
“Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Character Voiceover Performance (Television)
Angela Bassett — “Orion and the Dark” (Netflix)
Cree Summer — “Rugrats” (Nickelodeon)
Cree Summer — “The Legend of Vox Machina” (Amazon Prime Video)
Dawnn Lewis — “Star Trek: Lower Decks” (Paramount+)
Keke Palmer — “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy” (Amazon Prime Video)
Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
“In the Margins” (PBS)
NCAA Basketball on CBS Sports (CBS)
“Roots of Resistance” (PBS)
“SC Featured” (ESPN)
“The Prince of Death Row Records “(YouTube TV)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
Diarra Kilpatrick — “Diarra From Detroit” (BET+)
Maurice Williams — “The Madness” (Netflix)
Thembi L. Banks — “Young. Wild. Free.” (BET+)
Vince Staples — “The Vince Staples Show” (Netflix)
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist
Doechii (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
Myles Smith (RCA Records/Sony Music Entertainment)
Samoht (Affective Music)
Shaboozey (American Dogwood/Empire)
Tyla (Epic Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
J. Cole (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
October London (Death Row Records/gamma.)
Usher (mega/gamma.)
Outstanding Female Artist
Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
Coco Jones (Def Jam Recordings)
Doechii (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
GloRilla (Collective Music Group/Interscope Records)
H.E.R. (RCA Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Heart of a Human” — DOE (Life Room Label/RCA Inspiration)
“Live Breathe Fight” — Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
“Still Karen” — Karen Clark Sheard (Karew Records/Motown Gospel)
“Sunny Days” — Yolanda Adams (Epic Records)
“The Maverick Way Reimagined” — Maverick City Music (Tribl Records)
Outstanding International Song
“Close” — Skip Marley (Def Jam Recordings)
“Hmmm” — Chris Brown feat. Davido (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
“Jump” — Tyla (Epic Records)
“Love Me JeJe” — Tems (RCA Records/Since ‘93)
“Piece of My Heart” — Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz (RCA Records/Sony Music International/Starboy Entertainment)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Alright” — Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
“Alter Ego (ALTERnate Version)” — Doechii, JT (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
“Boy Bye” — Chlöe (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
“Yeah Glo!” — GloRilla (Collective Music Group/Interscope Records)
Outstanding Album
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” — Doechii (Epic Records)
“Cape Town to Cairo” — PJ Morton (Morton Records/EMPIRE)
“Coming Home” — USHER (mega/gamma.)
“Cowboy Carter” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
“Glorious” — GloRilla (Collective Music Group/Interscope Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Bob Marley: One Love (Soundtrack)” (Tuff Gong/Island Records)
“Genius: MLK/X (Songs from the Original Series)” (Hollywood Records)
“Reasonable Doubt (Season 2) (Original Soundtrack)” (Hollywood Records)
“The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (Geneva Club under exclusive license to Roc Nation Records, LLC)
“Wicked: The Soundtrack” (Republic Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Church Doors” — Yolanda Adams (Epic Records)
“Do It Anyway” — Tasha Cobbs (TeeLee Records/Motown Gospel)
“God Problems (Not By Power)” — (Tribl Records)
“I Prayed for You (Said a Prayer)” MAJOR. — (NowThatsMAJOR/MNRK Music Group)
“Working for Me” — Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Creole Orchestra” — Etienne Charles (Culture Shock Music)
“Epic Cool” — Kirk Whalum (Artistry Music)
“Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies” — Javon Jackson and Nikki Giovanni (Solid Jackson Records)
“On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute” — Matthew Whitaker (MOCAT Records)
“Portrait” — Samara Joy (Verve Records)
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“16 CARRIAGES” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
“Here We Go (Uh Oh)” — Coco Jones (Def Jam Recordings)
“I Found You” — PJ Morton (Morton Records/EMPIRE)
“Residuals” — Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
“Saturn” — SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“Mamushi” — Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba (Hot Girl Productions LLC/Warner Music Group)
“Murdergram Deux” — LL Cool J feat. Eminem (Def Jam Recordings)
“Noid” — Tyler, the Creator (Columbia Records)
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)