NAACP Image Awards 2022 Winners

The 2022 NAACP Image Awards winners are slowly rolling in! The ceremony —recognized as the “nation’s preeminent multicultural awards show from an African-American perspective” — announced this year’s nominees for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards on Jan. 18 via Twitter and Instagram Live with Kyla Pratt, Marcus Scribner, and Tinashe.

Ahead of the televised show, the NAACP Image Awards announced the winners for individuals in the literary and podcast categories on Feb. 21. Among the honored were the late Cicely Tyson, Will Smith, Tabitha Brown, Stacey Abrams, and Jemele Hill. The second round of winners was announced the following day in the writing and directing categories: Issa Rae, Barry Jenkins, Kenny Leon, Davita Scarlett, Abdul Williams, Bashir Salahuddin, and Shaka King all snagged wins. Night three celebrated winners in talk shows, reality competition shows, and outstanding performances by actors in television and motion pictures. Jada Pinkett Smith, Trevor Noah, Maya Rudolph, Letitia Wright, and more were included in night three’s list of winners.

Leading the pack of nominees across television and film this year are Netflix’s “The Harder They Fall” and HBO’s “Insecure” — both tied for a whopping 12 nominations in their respective categories. Other notable films and TV shows nominated include “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “King Richard,” “Respect,” “Black-ish,” “Pose,” “Harlem,” “Run the World,” and “All American.” Will Smith and Denzel Washington both earned two nominations apiece for “King Richard” and “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” respectively. Other actors with multiple nominations include LaKeith Stanfield, Regina Hall, William Jackson Harper, and Natasha Rothwell.

For music, H.E.R. — the most-nominated musician this year — leads with six nominations total. Trailing closely behind her with four nominations each are Chlöe, Drake, Jazmine Sullivan, and Silk Sonic. Entertainer of the year has a stacked group of nominees with Jennifer Hudson, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Regina King, and Tiffany Haddish all in the running to take home the award.

The 2022 NAACP Image Awards televised event will air live on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on BET. Keep reading for the complete list of nominees and winners.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“King Richard” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“Respect” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
“The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Denzel Washington — “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (Apple TV+ / A24)
Jonathan Majors — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)
LaKeith Stanfield — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mahershala Ali — “Swan Song” (Apple TV+)
Will Smith — “King Richard” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

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 Actor in a Motion Picture

Algee Smith — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Daniel Kaluuya — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Delroy Lindo — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)
Idris Elba — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)
LaKeith Stanfield — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Aunjanue Ellis — “King Richard” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Audra McDonald — “Respect” (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Danielle Deadwyler — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)
Dominique Fishback — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Regina King — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

“American Skin” (Vertical Entertainment)
“Bruised” (Netflix)
“CODA” (Apple TV+)
“Test Pattern” (Kino Lorber)
“The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain” (RedBird Entertainment)

Outstanding International Motion Picture

WINNER: “7 Prisoners” (Netflix)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

WINNER: Danny Boyd Jr. — “Bruised” (Netflix)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

WINNER: “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

“Encanto” (Walt Disney Studios)
“Luca” (Walt Disney Studios)
“Raya and the Last Dragon” (Walt Disney Studios)
“Sing 2” (Universal Pictures)
“Vivo” (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance — Motion Picture

WINNER: Letitia Wright — “Sing 2” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

WINNER: Jeymes Samuel — “The Harder They Fall” (Netflix)

Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)

WINNER: “When the Sun Sets” (Lakutshon’ Ilanga) (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

WINNER: “Us Again” (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Black-ish” (ABC)
“Harlem” (Amazon Studios)
“Insecure” (HBO)
“Run the World” (Starz)
“The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Cedric the Entertainer — “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Don Cheadle — “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Elisha “EJ” Williams — “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Jay Ellis — “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Issa Rae — “Insecure” (HBO)
Loretta Devine — “Family Reunion” (Netflix)
Regina Hall — “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Tracee Ellis Ross — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Yvonne Orji — “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher — “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Deon Cole — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Kenan Thompson — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Kendrick Sampson — “Insecure” (HBO)
Laurence Fishburne — “Black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Amanda Seales — “Insecure” (HBO)
Jenifer Lewis — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Marsai Martin — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Natasha Rothwell — “Insecure” (HBO)
Wanda Sykes — “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

“9-1-1” (FOX)
“All American” (The CW)
“Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
“Pose” (FX Network)
“Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Billy Porter — “Pose” (FX Network)
Damson Idris — “Snowfall” (FX Network)
Forest Whitaker — “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Kofi Siriboe — “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Sterling K. Brown — “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett — “9-1-1” (FOX)
Dawn-Lyen Gardner — “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Octavia Spencer — “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)
Queen Latifah — “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Rutina Wesley — “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Alex R. Hibbert — “The Chi” (Showtime)
Cliff “Method Man” Smith — “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz)
Daniel Ezra — “All American” (The CW)
Giancarlo Esposito — “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Joe Morton — “Our Kind of People” (FOX)

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)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

“Colin in Black & White” — (Netflix)
“Genius: Aretha” — (National Geographic)
“Love Life” — (HBO Max)
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” — (Lifetime)
“The Underground Railroad” — (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Anthony Mackie — “Solos” (Amazon Studios)
Jaden Michael — “Colin in Black & White” (Netflix)
Kevin Hart — “True Story” (Netflix)
Wesley Snipes — “True Story” (Netflix)
William Jackson Harper — “Love Life” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Betty Gabriel — “Clickbait” (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo — “Genius: Aretha” (National Geographic)
Danielle Brooks — “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” (Lifetime)
Jodie Turner-Smith — “Anne Boleyn” (AMC+)
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)
Keith David — “Black as Night” (Amazon Studios)
Tituss Burgess — “Annie Live!” (NBC)
Will Catlett — “True Story” (Netflix)
William Jackson Harper — “The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Anika Noni Rose — “Maid” (Netflix)
Natasha Rothwell — “The White Lotus” (HBO)
Pauletta Washington — “Genius: Aretha” (National Geographic)
Regina Hall — “Nine Perfect Strangers” (Hulu)
Sheila Atim — “The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

WINNER: “The ReidOut” (MSNBC)

Outstanding Talk Series

WINNER: “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)

WINNER: “Wild ‘n Out” (VH1)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)

WINNER: “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Children’s Program

WINNER: “Family Reunion” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)

Alayah “Lay Lay” High — “That Girl Lay Lay” (Nickelodeon)
Celina Smith — “Annie Live!” (NBC)
Elisha “EJ” Williams — “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Eris Baker — “This Is Us” (NBC)
Miles Brown — “Black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) — Individual or Ensemble

WINNER: 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

WINNER: Trevor Noah — “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Guest Performance

WINNER: Maya Rudolph — “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Outstanding Animated Series

WINNER: “We the People” (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

WINNER: Cree Summer — “Rugrats” (Nickelodeon)

Outstanding Short Form Series — Comedy or Drama

WINNER: “Between the Scenes — The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special — Reality/Nonfiction

WINNER: “Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Angel Kristi Williams — “Colin in Black & White” (Netflix)
Cierra Glaude — “Queen Sugar” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Deborah Riley Draper — “The Legacy of Black Wall Street” (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Halcyon Person — “Karma’s World” (Netflix)
Quyen Tran — “Maid” (Netflix)

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding New Artist

Cynthia Erivo — “Ch. 1 Vs. 1” (Verve Records / UMG Recordings)
Jimmie Allen — “Bettie James Gold Edition” (BBR Music Group)
Saweetie — “Best Friend” feat. Doja Cat (ICY / Warner Records)
Tems — “If Orange Was a Place” (RCA Records / Since ’93)
Zoe Wees — “Girls Like Us” (Capitol Records)

Outstanding Male Artist

Anthony Hamilton — “Love Is the New Black” (My Music Box LLC / BMG)
Drake — “Way 2 Sexy” (Republic Records)
Giveon — “Heartbreak Anniversary” (Epic Records)
J. Cole — “The Off-Season” (Dreamville / Roc Nation)
Lil Nas X — “Montero” (Call Me by Your Name) (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

H.E.R. — “Back of My Mind” (RCA Records / MBK Entertainment)
Ari Lennox — “Pressure”” (Dreamville / Interscope Records)
Beyoncé — “Be Alive” (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
Chlöe — “Have Mercy” (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
Jazmine Sullivan — “Heaux Tales” (RCA Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

“Anthems & Glory” — Todd Dulaney (MNRK Music Group)
“Believe For It” — CeCe Winans (Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media)
“Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A.” — Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music (Life Room Label LLC / K Approved Enterprises. Inc.)
“Overcomer” — Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
“Power” — Jason McGee & The Choir (My Block, Inc.)

Outstanding International Song

“Essence” — Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber (RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International)
“Peru” — Fireboy DML (YBNL Nation / Empire)
“Somebody’s Son” — Tiwa Savage feat. Brandy (Motown)
“Touch It” — KiDi (Lynx Entertainment / MadeInENY / Empire)
“Understand” — Omah Lay (The KeyQaad / Sire Records)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

“Best Friend” — Saweetie feat. Doja Cat (ICY / Warner Records)
“Essence” — Wizkid feat. Tems (RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International)
“Fye Fye” — Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe (Tobe Nwigwe, LLC)
“Have Mercy” — Chlöe (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
“Leave the Door Open” — Silk Sonic (Atlantic / Aftermath)

Outstanding Album

“An Evening With Silk Sonic” — Silk Sonic (Atlantic / Aftermath)
“Back of My Mind” — H.E.R. (RCA Records / MBK Entertainment)
“Certified Lover Boy” — Drake (Republic Records)
“Heaux Tales” — Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
“When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time” — Giveon (Epic Records)

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 (Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services / Red Alliance Media)
“Help Me” — Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas (Tillymann Music Group)
“Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” — H.E.R. and Tauren Wells (RCA Records / Sony Music)
“Overcome 2021” — Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul / RCA Records )
“Time For Reparations” — Sounds of Blackness (Sounds of Blackness / Atomic K Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album — Instrumental

“Forever…Jaz” — Jazmin Ghent (Independent Artist)
“Love Languages” — Nathan Mitchell (ENM Music Group)
“Somewhere Different” — Brandee Younger (Impulse! Records)
“Sounds From the Ancestors” — Kenny Garrett (Mack Avenue Music Group)
“The Magic of Now” — Orrin Evans (Smoke Sessions Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album — Vocal

“Dear Love” — Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force (Empress Legacy Records)
“Generations” — The Baylor Project (Be a Light)
“Ledisi Sings Nina” — Ledisi (Listen Back Entertainment / BMG)
“Let There Be Love” — Freda Payne (Alain Franke Records)
“SALSWING!” — Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta (Rubén Blades Productions)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

“Damage” — H.E.R. (RCA Records / MBK Entertainment)
“Be Alive” — Beyoncé (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
“Have Mercy” — Chlöe (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
“Leave the Door Open” — Silk Sonic (Atlantic / Aftermath)
“Pick Up Your Feelings” — Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song

“Best Friend” — Saweetie feat. Doja Cat (ICY / Warner Records)
“Fye Fye” — Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe (Tobe Nwigwe, LLC)
“Industry Baby” — Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow (Columbia Records)
“My Life (with 21 Savage and Morray)” — J. Cole (Dreamville / Roc Nation)
“Way 2 Sexy” — Drake (Republic Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

Anthony Hamilton feat. Jennifer Hudson — “Superstar” (My Music Box LLC / BMG)
Chlöe x Halle — “Georgia on My Mind” (Columbia Records / Parkwood)
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. — “Girl Like Me” (RCA Records)
Leela James feat. Anthony Hamilton — “Complicated (Remix)” (SheSangz Music, Inc. / BMG)
Silk Sonic — “Leave the Door Open” (Atlantic / Aftermath)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Chris Brown feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk, and Latto — “Go Crazy (Remix)” (RCA Records)
Doja Cat feat. SZA — “Kiss Me More” (RCA Records / Kemosabe Records)
Drake feat. Future and Young Thug — “Way 2 Sexy” (Republic Records)
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown — “Come Through” (RCA Records / MBK Entertainment)
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe — “Fye Fye” (Tobe Nwigwe, LLC)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

“Attica” (Showtime)
“Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power” (Greenwich Entertainment)
“My Name Is Pauli Murray” (Amazon Studios in association with Participant)
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” (Searchlight Pictures, Onyx Collective, Hulu)
“Tina” (HBO Documentary Films)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

WINNER: “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America” (Netflix)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

WINNER: Issa Rae — “Insecure” — “Everything’s Gonna Be, Okay?!” (HBO)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

WINNER: Davita Scarlett — “The Good Fight” — “And the Firm Had Two Partners…” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

WINNER: Abdul Williams — “Salt-N-Pepa” (Lifetime Movie Network)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture

WINNER: Shaka King, Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

WINNER: Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle — “South Side” — “Tornado” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

WINNER: Barry Jenkins — “The Underground Railroad” — “Indiana Winter” (Amazon Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

WINNER: Kenny Leon — “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

WINNER: Shaka King — “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

WINNER: Samantha Knowles, Yoruba Richen, Geeta Gandbhir, Nadia Hallgren — “Black and Missing” (HBO)

LITERARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction

WINNER: “Long Division” — Kiese Laymon (Simon & Schuster)

Outstanding Literary Work — Nonfiction

WINNER: “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story” — Nikole Hannah-Jones (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work — Debut Author

WINNER: “Just as I Am” — Cicely Tyson (Amistad)

Outstanding Literary Work — Biography/Autobiography

WINNER: “Will” — Will Smith (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work — Instructional

WINNER: “Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business)” — Tabitha Brown (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work — Poetry

WINNER: “Perfect Black” — Crystal Wilkinson (University Press of Kentucky)

Outstanding Literary Work — Children

WINNER: “Stacey’s Extraordinary Words” — Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas (HarperCollins)

Outstanding Literary Work — Youth/Teens

WINNER: “Ace of Spades” — Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan)

PODCAST CATEGORIES

Outstanding News and Information Podcast

WINNER: “Blindspot: Tulsa Burning”

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast

WINNER: “Two Funny Mamas: Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley”

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast

WINNER: “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered”

Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast

WINNER: “Jemele Hill Is Unbothered”

YOUTH ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Channing Hill, NAACP Chapter President of Howard University

ROY WILKINS CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS

WINNER: The Mexican American Legislative Caucus, Texas House Democratic Caucus, and Texas Legislative Black Caucus

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

@Euniquejg — Eunique Jones Gibson
@KevOnStage — Kevin Fredericks
@Laronhinesofficial — Laron Hines
@_Lyneezy — Lanae Vanee
@Terrellgrice — Terrell Grice

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