The nominations for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards nominations are here, with Drake, J. Cole, Beyoncé, Lil Nas X, Chris Brown, Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie and Silk Sonic all in the race for silverware.
This year’s nominees were announced during a special virtual event hosted by actress/singer Kyla Pratt, Black-ish actor Marcus Scribner and R&B star Tinashe on the NAACP’s Instagram account on Tuesday (January 18).
H.E.R. is the most nominated artist with a total of six nods thanks to her critically-acclaimed album Back of My Mind and collaborations with Jazmine Sullivan and Tauren Wells. Drake, Chlöe, Jazmine Sullivan and Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars (a.k.a. Silk Sonic) follow with four nominations apiece.
Meanwhile, Lil Nas X’s monster 2021 nets him three nominations, including in the Entertainer of the Year category, while J. Cole and Beyoncé are both up for two awards off the strength of The Off-Season and the King Richard song “Be Alive,” respectively.
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In the movie and TV categories, Netflix’s The Harder They Fall and HBO’s Insecure lead the pack with 12 nominations each, while Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Issa Rae, Queen Latifah, Halle Berry, LaKeith Stanfield and Damson Idris are among those vying for the top individual awards.
Music legends-turned-thespians Method Man and Mary J. Blige also received nominations for their supporting roles in 50 Cent’s Starz series Power Book II: Ghost. 50 congratulated them both on Instagram, writing, “@methodmanofficial not playing no games” and “@therealmaryjblige is out here killing shit!”
“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, Image Awards Committee chairman.
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Voting is now open to the public at NAACPImageAwards.net. Winners will be announced during the televised ceremony, hosted by actor/comedian Anthony Anderson, which airs at 8 p.m. ET on February 26 on BET.
See the full list of 2022 NAACP Image Awards nominations below.
Outstanding Male Artist
Anthony Hamilton
Drake
Givēon
J. Cole
Lil Nas X
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Outstanding Female Artist
H.E.R.
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Chlöe
Jazmine Sullivan
Outstanding New Artist
Cynthia Erivo
Jimmie Allen
Saweetie
Tems
Zoe Wees
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Outstanding Album
Silk Sonic — An Evening with Silk Sonic
H.E.R. — Back of My Mind
Drake — Certified Lover Boy
Jazmine Sullivan — Heaux Tales
Givēon — When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
Saweetie feat. Doja Cat — “Best Friend”
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe — “Fye Fye”
Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow — “Industry Baby”
J. Cole feat. 21 Savage & Morray — “My Life”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug — “Way 2 Sexy”
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
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H.E.R. — “Damage”
Beyoncé — “Be Alive”
Chlöe — “Have Mercy”
Silk Sonic — “Leave The Door Open”
Jazmine Sullivan — “Pick Up Your Feelings”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Chris Brown feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk & 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”
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
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Saweetie feat. Doja Cat — “Best Friend”
Wizkid feat. Tems — “Essence”
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe — “Fye Fye”
Chlöe — “Have Mercy”
Silk Sonic — “Leave The Door Open”
Entertainer of the Year
Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish
Outstanding Motion Picture
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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
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Andra Day — The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Halle Berry — Bruised
Jennifer Hudson — Respect
Tessa Thompson — Passing
Zendaya — Malcolm & Marie
Outstanding Comedy Series
black-ish
Harlem
Insecure
Run the World
The Upshaws
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
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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 Drama Series
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9-1-1
All American
Godfather of Harlem
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
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Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
Dawn-Lyen Gardner – Queen Sugar
Octavia Spencer – Truth Be Told
Queen Latifah – The Equalizer
Rutina Wesley – Queen Sugar
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
Attica
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power
My Name Is Pauli Murray
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Tina
Outstanding Talk Series
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Desus & Mero
Hart to Heart
Red Table Talk
Tamron Hall
The Real