2023 NAACP Image Awards Winners
The 2023 NAACP Image Awards winners have already started rolling in ahead of Saturday night’s ceremony. The annual award show announced this year’s pool of nominees on Jan. 12, recognizing talent, creativity, and trailblazers across film, television, music, streaming, podcasts, literature, and social justice. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” leads the pack with a whopping 12 nominations, snagging wins for the dynamic cast, soundtrack, and Rihanna’s original end-credits song, “Lift Me Up,” as well as nods for filmmaker Ryan Coogler, costume designer Ruth Carter, and hairstylist Camille Friend.
Trailing behind the Marvel blockbuster are Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film “The Woman King” and “Abbott Elementary” leading the TV race, both projects earning nine nominations each and the latter with two wins already. Other notable individuals among the winners list so far include Beyoncé, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis, Nia Long, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Tems, Silk Sonic, Kid Cudi, Quavo, and Offset.
This year, the 54th NAACP Image Awards will return with an in-person audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles with three brand-new categories for honorees: outstanding hairstyling, outstanding make-up, and outstanding costume design. All of these acknowledge innovation in some of last year’s standout TV shows and movies, including “Wakanda Forever,” “Emancipation,” “The Woman King,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”
“Throughout the past year, we’ve witnessed Black artists showcasing our history and uplifting values of progressive change, while redefining genres and bringing our stories to the forefront of entertainment in so many innovative ways,” Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said of the new shift in a statement, per Entertainment Tonight. “Black voices are necessary to continually inspire audiences around the world. We’re proud to once again provide a platform that both elevates and celebrates these voices through the 54th NAACP Image Awards.”
The 2023 NAACP Image Awards airs on BET with a two-hour special on Feb. 25. Ahead, see which winners have been crowned so far.
Entertainer of the Year
Angela Bassett
Mary J. Blige
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
“A Jazzman’s Blues”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Emancipation”
“The Woman King”
“Till”
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Daniel Kaluuya – “Nope”
Jonathan Majors – “Devotion”
Joshua Boone – “A Jazzman’s Blues”
Sterling K. Brown – “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.”
Will Smith – “Emancipation”
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Danielle Deadwyler – “Till”
Keke Palmer – “Alice”
Letitia Wright – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Regina Hall – “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.”
Viola Davis – “The Woman King”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Aldis Hodge – “Black Adam”
Cliff “Method Man” Smith – “On the Come Up”
Jalyn Hall – “Till”
John Boyega – “The Woman King”
WINNER: Tenoch Huerta – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Angela Bassett – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Danai Gurira – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Janelle Monáe – “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery “
Lashana Lynch – “The Woman King”
Lupita Nyong’o – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Breaking”
“Causeway”
“Mr. Malcolm’s List”
“Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”
WINNER: “The Inspection”
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“Athena”
WINNER: “Bantú Mama”
“Broker”
“Learn to Swim”
“The Silent Twins”
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Jalyn Hall – “Till”
Joshua Boone – “A Jazzman’s Blues”
Ledisi – “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”
Y’lan Noel – “A Lot of Nothing”
Yola – “Elvis “
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“A Jazzman’s Blues”
WINNER: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Emancipation”
“The Woman King”
“Till”
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“DC League of Super-Pets”
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
“Turning Red”
WINNER: “Wendell & Wild”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance — Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – “Wendell & Wild”
WINNER: Keke Palmer – “Lightyear”
Kevin Hart – “DC League of Super-Pets”
Lyric Ross – “Wendell & Wild”
Taraji P. Henson – “Minions: The Rise of Gru”
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Elvis Mitchell – “Is That Black Enough For You?!?”
WINNER: Ericka Nicole Malone – “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”
Krystin Ver Linden – “Alice”
Mo McRae – “A Lot of Nothing”
Stephen Adetumbi, Jarrett Roseborough – “This Is My Black”
Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)
WINNER: “Dear Mama . . . “
“Fannie”
“Fathead”
“Incomplete”
“Pens & Pencils”
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)
“I Knew Superman”
WINNER: “More Than I Want to Remember”
“Supercilious”
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”
“We Are Here”
Television + Streaming Categories
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary”
“Atlanta”
“Black-ish”
“Rap Sh!t”
“The Wonder Years”
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – “Black-ish”
WINNER: Cedric the Entertainer – “The Neighborhood”
Donald Glover – “Atlanta”
Dulé Hill – “The Wonder Years”
Mike Epps – “The Upshaws”
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Loretta Devine – “Family Reunion”
Maya Rudolph – “Loot”
WINNER: Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary”
Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood”
Tracee Ellis Ross – “Black-ish”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brian Tyree Henry – “Atlanta”
Deon Cole – “Black-ish”
Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live”
WINNER: Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary”
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary”
Jenifer Lewis – “Black-ish”
Marsai Martin – “Black-ish”
Sheryl Lee Ralph – “Abbott Elementary”
Wanda Sykes – “The Upshaws”
Outstanding Drama Series
“Bel-Air”
“Bridgerton”
“Euphoria”
WINNER: “P-Valley”
“Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – “Snowfall”
Jabari Banks – “Bel-Air”
Kofi Siriboe – “Queen Sugar”
Nicco Annan – “P-Valley”
Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us”
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9-1-1”
Brandee Evans – “P-Valley”
Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer”
Rutina Wesley – “Queen Sugar”
Zendaya – “Euphoria”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – “Bel-Air”
Amin Joseph – “Snowfall”
Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things”
WINNER: Cliff “Method Man” Smith – “Power Book II: Ghost”
J. Alphonse Nicholson – “P-Valley”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh – “Bridgerton”
Bianca Lawson – “Queen Sugar”
WINNER: Loretta Devine – “P-Valley”
Susan Kelechi Watson – “This Is Us”
Tina Lifford – “Queen Sugar”
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Carl Weber’s “The Black Hamptons”
“From Scratch”
WINNER: “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
“Women of the Movement”
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Morris Chestnut – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Samuel L. Jackson – “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
Terrence Howard – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Trevante Rhodes – “Mike”
Wendell Pierce – “Don’t Hang Up”
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Niecy Nash-Betts – “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
Regina Hall – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Sanaa Lathan – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Viola Davis – “The First Lady”
Zoe Saldaña – “From Scratch”
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman – “Women of the Movement”
WINNER: Keith David – “From Scratch”
Omar Benson Miller – “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
Russell Hornsby – “Mike”
Terrence “TC” Carson – “A Wesley Christmas”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Alexis Floyd – “Inventing Anna”
Danielle Deadwyler – “From Scratch”
Melissa De Sousa – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
WINNER: Nia Long – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Phylicia Rashad – “Little America”
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“Roland Martin Unfiltered: Black Votes Matter Election Night 2022 Coverage”
WINNER: “ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation With Robin Roberts”
“Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”
“OWN Spotlight: Viola Davis – The Woman King”
“The Hair Tales”
Outstanding Talk Series
“Hart to Heart”
“Red Table Talk”
WINNER: “Sherri”
“Tamron Hall”
“Uninterrupted: The Shop”
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
“Legendary”
WINNER: “Lizzo’s Watch Out For the Big Grrrls”
“Shark Tank”
“Sweet Life: Los Angeles”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta”
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
“A Black Lady Sketch Show”
“BET Awards 2022”
“Deon Cole: Charleen’s Boy”
“Martin: The Reunion”
WINNER: “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Family Reunion”
“Raising Dion”
“Raven’s Home”
WINNER: “Tab Time”
“Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant”
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High – “That Girl Lay Lay”
Cameron J. Wright – “Family Reunion”
Elisha Williams – “The Wonder Years”
Khali Spraggins – “The Upshaws”
WINNER: Ja’Siah Young – “Raising Dion”
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”
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson – “The Jennifer Hudson Show”
Kevin Hart – “Hart to Heart”
Lester Holt – “NBC Nightly News”
Tracee Ellis Ross – “The Hair Tales”
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) — Individual or Ensemble
Keke Palmer – “Password”
Lizzo – “Lizzo’s Watch Out For the Big Grrrls”
WINNER: Tabitha Brown – “Tab Time”
Taraji P. Henson – “BET Awards 2022”
Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
Outstanding Guest Performance
Amanda Gorman – “Sesame Street”
Chance the Rapper – “South Side”
Colman Domingo – “Euphoria”
WINNER: Glynn Turman – “Queen Sugar”
Gabourey Sidibe – “American Horror Stories”
Outstanding Animated Series
“Central Park”
“Eureka!”
“Gracie’s Corner TV”
WINNER: “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”
“Zootopia+”
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Billy Porter – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”
Cedric the Entertainer – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”
Chris Bridges – “Karma’s World”
Cree Summer – “Rugrats”
WINNER: Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”
Outstanding Short Form Series — Comedy or Drama
WINNER: “Between the Scenes – The Daily Show”
“Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans”
“Rise Up, Sing Out”
“Sunday Dinner”
“Zootopia+”
Outstanding Short Form Series or Special — Reality/Nonfiction
“Black Independent Films: A Brief History”
WINNER: “Daring Simone Biles”
“Historian’s Take”
“NFL 360”
“Omitted: The Black Cowboy”
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Amy Wang – “From Scratch”
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins – “Kindred”
Hannah Cope – “Karma’s World”
WINNER: Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary”
Syreeta Singleton – “Rap Sh!t”
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist
Adam Blackstone – “Legacy”
Armani White – “Billie Eilish”
Coco Jones – “ICU”
Fivio Foreign – “B.I.B.L.E”
Steve Lacy – “Gemini Rights”
Outstanding Male Artist
Brent Faiyaz – “Wasteland”
Burna Boy – “Love, Damini”
WINNER: Chris Brown – “Breezy (Deluxe)”
Drake – “Honestly, Nevermind”
Kendrick Lamar – “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”
Outstanding Female Artist
Ari Lennox – “Age/Sex/Location”
WINNER: Beyoncé – “Renaissance”
Chlöe – “Surprise”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Hurt Me So Good”
SZA – “SOS”
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“All Things New” – Tye Tribbett
“Hymns” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
WINNER: “Kingdom Book One” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
“My Life” – James Fortune
“The Urban Hymnal” – Tennessee State University
Outstanding International Song
“Bad to Me” — Wizkid
“Diana” — Fireboy DML and Chris Brown feat. Shenseea
“Last Last” — Burna Boy
WINNER: “No Woman No Cry” — Tems
“Stand Strong” — Davido feat. Sunday Service Choir
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“Be Alive” – Beyoncé
WINNER: Lift Me Up” – Rihanna
“Lord Forgive Me” — Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat, Pharrell, and Olu of Earthgang
“The Heart Part 5” – Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Album
“Age/Sex/Location” – Ari Lennox
“Breezy (Deluxe)” – Chris Brown
“Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” – Kendrick Lamar
WINNER: “Renaissance” – Beyoncé
“Watch the Sun” – PJ Morton
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
WINNER: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – Music From and Inspired By – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, and Dave Jordan
“Bridgerton Season Two” (Soundtrack From the Netflix Series) – Kris Bowers
“Entergalactic” – Kid Cudi
“P-Valley: Season 2” (Music From the Original TV Series) – Various Artists
“The Woman King” – Terence Blanchard
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“All in Your Hands” – Marvin Sapp
“Fly (Y.M.M.F.)” – Tennessee State University
WINNER: “Positive” – Erica Campbell
“Whole World in His Hands” – Major.
“Your World” – Jonathan McReynolds
Outstanding Jazz Album — Instrumental
“Detour” – Boney James
WINNER: “JID014” (Jazz Is Dead) – Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge
“The Funk Will Prevail” – Kaelin Ellis
“The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni” – Javon Jackson
“Thrill Ride” – Ragan Whiteside
Outstanding Jazz Album — Vocal
“Legacy” – Adam Blackstone
“Linger Awhile” – Samara Joy
“Love and the Catalyst” –