56th NAACP Image Awards Nominees Announced: Public Voting Now Open
LOS ANGELES – The NAACP has unveiled the complete list of nominees for the 56th NAACP Image Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in film, television, music, literature, and more. Headlining the event are Entertainer of the Year nominees Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, and Shannon Sharpe.
The winners will be revealed during two events: the Creative Honors Ceremonies on Friday, February 21, 2025, streamed on naacpimageawards.net, and the LIVE two-hour TV special airing Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year’s theme, “Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Excellence,” highlights the power of Black storytelling.
Key Highlights
- Motion Pictures: The Piano Lesson leads with 14 nominations, followed by The Book of Clarence with six.
- Television: Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist dominates with nine nominations. Netflix leads networks with 64 nods.
- Music: GloRilla received six nominations, the highest in the music categories, with Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and Usher following closely with four each.
- Literature: Penguin Random House leads with four nominations across literary categories.
- Television/Streaming: Ayo Edebiri is leading with four nominations.
Public Voting
Fans can vote for their favorites in select categories by visiting www.vote.naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 7, 2025, at midnight ET.
Major Nominees
Entertainer of the Year:
- Cynthia Erivo
- Keke Palmer
- Kendrick Lamar
- Kevin Hart
- Shannon Sharpe
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 Comedy Series:
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- How to Die Alone (Hulu)
- Poppa’s House (CBS)
- The Neighborhood (CBS)
- The Upshaws (Netflix)
Outstanding New Artist:
- Doechii
- Myles Smith
- Samoht
- Shaboozey
- Tyla
This year’s awards also recognize trailblazers in social media, documentaries, podcasts, and youth performances, with nominees representing diverse and impactful contributions across genres.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson stated, “We look forward to celebrating the brilliance of Black talent and creativity whose stories shape culture, ignite change, and inspire generations. 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.”
How to Watch
The Creative Honors Ceremonies will stream on February 21, followed by the LIVE telecast from Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22 on BET and CBS.
For the complete list of nominees and updates, visit www.naacpimageawards.net or follow on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.