NAACP Image Awards: Jennifer Hudson Named Entertainer of the Year, Other Winners Announced
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The 53rd Annual NAACP Image Awards were held Saturday evening, though not in their traditional format.
The awards for music, television and other categories were announced via pre-telecast virtual ceremonies over the past five days, with the awards for the film industry coming during a two-hour televised special held in Anaheim at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
The NAACP Image Awards are held to honor "outstanding achievements and performances of people of color."
Jennifer Hudson was awarded the show's top honor Saturday, taking home the Entertainer of the Year award, as well as the best acting award for her role as Aretha Franklin in "Respect."
She was one of five entertainers nominated for the award, along with Tiffany Haddish, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion and Regina King.
Also receiving awards on Saturday were Samuel L. Jackson, who was given Chairman's Award for his public service and advocacy for social change and Nikole Hannah-Jones, who received a Social Justice Impact Award for her authoring of the Pulitzer Prize winning non-fiction,"The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story."
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were also awarded the President's Award, in recognition of their dedication to public service after the duo joined with the NAACP to present the inaugural NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award to Safiya Noble, a UCLA professor of gender studies and African-American studies. The award recognizes "leaders creating transformational change -- at the intersection of social justice and technology -- to advance civil and human rights," according to City News Service.
Mary J. Blige, who just performed during the halftime show at Super Bowl LVI, also performed during Saturday's telecast of the awards show and was awarded for her performance on "Power Book II: Ghost" as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Full list of NAACP Image Award winners:
Entertainer of the Year
- Jennifer Hudson
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
- The Harder They Fall; Netflix
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
- Will Smith - King Richard; Warner Bros. Pictures
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
- Jennifer Hudson - Respect; Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
- Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah; Warner Bros. Pictures
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
- Regina King - The Harder They Fall; Netflix
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
- CODA; Apple TV+
Outstanding International Motion Picture
- 7 Prisoners; Netflix
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
- Danny Boyd, Jr. - Bruised; Netflix
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
- The Harder They Fall; Netflix
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
- Encanto; Walt Disney Studios
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - Motion Picture
- Letitia Wright - Sing 2; Universal Pictures
Outstanding Short-Form - Live Action
- When The Sun Sets (Lakutshon' Ilanga); Universal Pictures
Outstanding Short-Form - Animated
- Us Again; Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative - Motion Picture
- Jeymes Samuel - The Harder They Fall; Netflix
Television + Streaming Categories
Outstanding Comedy Series
- Insecure; HBO
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
- Anthony Anderson - `black-ish; ABC
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
- Issa Rae - Insecure; HBO
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Deon Cole - `black-ish; ABC
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Natasha Rothwell - Insecure; HBO
Outstanding Drama Series
- Queen Sugar; OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
- Sterling K. Brown - This is Us; NBC
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
- Angela Bassett - 9-1-1; FOX
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Cliff ``Method Man'' Smith - Power Book II: Ghost; Starz
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Mary J. Blige - Power Book II: Ghost; Starz
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
- Colin in Black & White; Netflix
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
- Kevin Hart - True Story; Netflix
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
- Taraji P. Henson - Annie Live!; NBC
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
- Courtney B. Vance - Genius: Aretha; National Geographic
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
- Regina Hall - Nine Perfect Strangers; Hulu
Outstanding News/Information - Series or Special
- The Reidout; MSNBC
Outstanding Talk Series
- Red Table Talk; Facebook Watch
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show - Series
- Wild 'n Out; VH1
Outstanding Variety Show - Series or Special
- The Daily Show with Trevor Noah; Comedy Central
Outstanding Children's Program
- Family Reunion; Netflix
Outstanding Performance by a Youth - Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series
- Miles Brown - `black-ish; ABC
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble
- Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith - Red Table Talk; Facebook Watch
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble
- Trevor Noah - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah; Comedy Central
Outstanding Guest Performance
- Maya Rudolph - Saturday Night Live; NBC
Outstanding Animated Series
- We The People; Netflix
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance - Television
- Cree Summer - Rugrats; Nickelodeon
Outstanding Short Form Series - Comedy or Drama
- Between the Scenes - The Daily Show; Comedy Central
Outstanding Short Form Series or Special - Reality/Nonfiction
- Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day; Paramount+
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative - Television
- Angel Kristi Williams - Colin in Black & White; Netflix
Recording Categories
Outstanding New Artist
- Saweetie - Best Friend feat. Doja Cat; ICY / Warner Records
Outstanding Male Artist
- Anthony Hamilton - Love Is The New Black; My Music Box LLC / BMG
Outstanding Female Artist
- Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales; RCA Records
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
- Overcomer - Tamela Mann; Tillymann Music Group
Outstanding International Song
- Essence - Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber; RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
- Essence - Wizkid feat. Tems; RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International
Outstanding Album
- Heaux Tales - Jazmine Sullivan; RCA Records
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
- The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) - JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel; Geneva Club / Roc Nation Records, LLC)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
- Help Me - Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas; Tillymann Music Group
Outstanding Jazz Album - Instrumental
- Sounds from the Ancestors - Kenny Garrett; Mack Avenue Music Group
Outstanding Jazz Album - Vocal
- Generations - The Baylor Project; Be A Light
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
- Pick Up Your Feelings - Jazmine Sullivan; RCA Records
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
- Fye Fye - Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe; Tobe Nwigwe, LLC
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration - Traditional
- Silk Sonic - Leave the Door Open; Atlantic / Aftermath
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration - Contemporary
- Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe - Fye Fye; Tobe Nwigwe, LLC
Documentary Categories
Outstanding Documentary - Film
- Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power; Greenwich Entertainment
Outstanding Documentary - Television
- High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America; Netflix
Writing Categories
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
- Issa Rae - Insecure -"Everything's Gonna Be, Okay?!"; HBO
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
- Davita Scarlett - The Good Fight - "And the Firm Had Two Partners*"; Paramount+
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
- Abdul Williams - Salt-N-Pepa; Lifetime Movie Network
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
- Shaka King, Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas - Judas and the Black Messiah; Warner Bros. Pictures
Directing Categories
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
- Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle - South Side - "Tornado"; HBO Max
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
- Barry Jenkins - The Underground Railroad - "Indiana Winter"; Amazon Studios
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
- Kenny Leon - Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia; Lifetime
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
- Shaka King - Judas and the Black Messiah; Warner Bros. Pictures
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary - Television or Motion Picture
- Samantha Knowles, Yoruba Richen, Geeta Gandbhir, Nadia Hallgren - Black and Missing; HBO
Literary Categories
Outstanding Literary Work - Fiction
- "Long Division" - Kiese Laymon; Simon & Schuster
Outstanding Literary Work - Nonfiction
- "The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story" - Nikole Hannah-Jones; Penguin Random House
Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author
- "Just As I Am" - Cicely Tyson; Amistad
Outstanding Literary Work - Biography/Autobiography
- "Will" - Will Smith; Penguin Random House
Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional
- "Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business)" - Tabitha Brown; HarperCollins Publishers
Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry
- "Perfect Black" - Crystal Wilkinson; University Press of Kentucky
Outstanding Literary Work - Children
- "Stacey's Extraordinary Words" - Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas; HarperCollins
Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens
- "Ace of Spades' - Faridah *bíké-Íyímídé; Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan
Podcast Categories
Outstanding News and Information Podcast
- Blindspot: Tulsa Burning
Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast
- Two Funny Mamas: Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley
Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
- Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast
- Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Social Media Personality of the Year
- @Laronhinesofficial - Laron Hines
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)