NAACP Image Awards 2022 Winners
Presenting the Winners of the 2022 NAACP Image Awards
The 2022 NAACP Image Awards winners have all been announced! The ceremony — recognised as the "nation's preeminent multicultural awards show from an African-American perspective" — shared 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 Saturday's televised show, the NAACP Image Awards started announcing winners for individuals in the literary and podcast categories on Feb. 21. Among the honoured were the late Cicely Tyson, Will Smith, Tabitha Brown, Stacey Abrams, and Jemele Hill. The second round of winners included 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.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z, Jazmine Sullivan, Wizkid, Silk Sonic, Saweetie, and more scored wins on night four for their contribution to music. And the fifth night recognised top performances across television and film, including "Colin in Black & White," "Queen Sugar," and "Encanto." The award show kicked off with Sterling K. Brown snagging the award for outstanding actor in a drama series for "This Is Us" and Angela Bassett winning outstanding actress in a drama series for "9-1-1." And last, but certainly not least, Jennifer Hudson took home the biggest award of the night: entertainer of the year.
Notable films and TV shows recognised this year included "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 included LaKeith Stanfield, Regina Hall, William Jackson Harper, and Natasha Rothwell.
For music, H.E.R. — the most-nominated musician this year — led with six nominations total. Chlöe, Drake, Jazmine Sullivan, and Silk Sonic all trailed closely behind her with four nominations each.
Keep reading for the complete list of winners.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson
MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Motion Picture
WINNER: "The Harder They Fall" (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Will Smith — "King Richard" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson — "Respect" (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Daniel Kaluuya — "Judas and the Black Messiah" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
WINNER: Regina King — "The Harder They Fall" (Netflix)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
WINNER: "CODA" (Apple TV+)
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
WINNER: "Encanto" (Walt Disney Studios)
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
WINNER: "Insecure" (HBO)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Anthony Anderson — "Black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Issa Rae — "Insecure" (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Deon Cole — "Black-ish" (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
WINNER: Natasha Rothwell — "Insecure" (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series
WINNER: "Queen Sugar" (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
WINNER: Sterling K. Brown — "This Is Us" (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
WINNER: Angela Bassett — "9-1-1" (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
WINNER: Cliff "Method Man" Smith — "Power Book II: Ghost" (Starz)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
WINNER: Mary J. Blige — "Power Book II: Ghost" (Starz)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: "Colin in Black & White" — (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Kevin Hart — "True Story" (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Taraji P. Henson — "Annie Live!" (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Courtney B. Vance — "Genius: Aretha" (National Geographic)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
WINNER: Regina Hall — "Nine Perfect Strangers" (Hulu)
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)
WINNER: 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)
WINNER: Angel Kristi Williams — "Colin in Black & White" (Netflix)
RECORDING CATEGORIES
Outstanding New Artist
WINNER: Saweetie — "Best Friend" feat. Doja Cat (ICY / Warner Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
WINNER: Anthony Hamilton — "Love Is the New Black" (My Music Box LLC / BMG)
Outstanding Female Artist
WINNER: Jazmine Sullivan — "Heaux Tales" (RCA Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
WINNER: "Overcomer" — Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding International Song
WINNER: "Essence" — Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber (RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
WINNER: "Essence" — Wizkid feat. Tems (RCA Records / Starboy / Sony Music International)
Outstanding Album
WINNER: "Heaux Tales" — Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
WINNER: "The Harder They Fall" (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) — Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel (Geneva Club / Roc Nation Records, LLC)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
WINNER: "Help Me" — Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Jazz Album — Instrumental
WINNER: "Sounds From the Ancestors" — Kenny Garrett (Mack Avenue Music Group)
Outstanding Jazz Album — Vocal
WINNER: "Generations" — The Baylor Project (Be a Light)
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
WINNER: "Pick Up Your Feelings" — Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
WINNER: "Fye Fye" — Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe (Tobe Nwigwe, LLC)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
WINNER: Silk Sonic — "Leave the Door Open" (Atlantic / Aftermath)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
WINNER: Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe — "Fye Fye" (Tobe Nwigwe, LLC)
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
WINNER: "Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power" (Greenwich Entertainment)
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
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Darnella Frazier
SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: @Laronhinesofficial — Laron Hines
