The NAACP has revealed the 56th NAACP Image Awards nominees, with contenders for ‘Entertainer of the Year’ including Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe.
This year’s theme, “Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Excellence,” celebrates Black artistry and achievement.
Category Highlights:
- Film: The Piano Lesson leads with 14 nominations, followed by The Book of Clarence with six.
- Television: Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist tops the TV categories with nine nods. Netflix dominates with 62 nominations.
- Music: GloRilla leads the music categories with six nominations, trailed by Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and Usher, each with four.
- Literature: Penguin Random House leads literary nominations with four, while HarperCollins Amistad and William Morrow follow with three each.
“We look forward to celebrating the brilliance of Black talent and creativity whose stories shape culture, ignite change, and inspire generations,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.“Through film, music, literature, and more, their voices weave a rich tapestry that honors our heritage, celebrates our identity, and proves that storytelling is a powerful force for driving true progress.”
Notable individual achievements include Ayo Edebiri, who earned four nominations across TV and streaming for her roles in The Bear and Saturday Night Live.
Keke Palmer also garnered four nominations, spanning her role in Password and The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, her podcast Baby, This is Keke Palmer, and her Entertainer of the Year nomination.
The nominations were announced live on CBS Mornings by Chloe Bailey and NAACP President Derrick Johnson, with additional announcements on YouTube by Novi Brown and Trevor Jackson of Grown-ish.
The winners will be announced during two ceremonies: the Creative Honors on Friday, February 21, 2025, via naacpimageawards.net, and the live TV special on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS, broadcasting from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
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)
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)
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)