56th NAACP Image Awards

The 56th NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2024 calendar year. The ceremony aired on February 22, 2025, on BET and simulcasted on CBS. Untelevised Image Awards categories were livestreamed February 21 on the Image Awards website.^[1][2]

56th NAACP Image Awards
Date	February 22, 2025
Site	Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California
Hosted by	Deon Cole
Official website	NAACPImageAwards.net
Highlights
Best Picture	The Six Triple Eight
Best Drama Series	Cross
Best Musical or Comedy Series	Abbott Elementary
Most nominations	The Piano Lesson 14 Nominations
Television coverage
Network	BET CBS BET Her MTV MTV2 CMT Comedy Central Logo TV Paramount Network Smithsonian Channel TV Land VH1 (simulcast)
← 55th NAACP Image Awards 57th →

Submissions were received online from August 26 to November 8, 2024, and public online voting on the shortlisted nominations for performance categories ran from January 7 to February 7, 2025, on the Image Awards website.^[3][4][5]

Winners and nominees

Dave Chappelle was honored with the President's Award.

Kamala Harris was honored with the Chairman's Award.

Keke Palmer received the award for Entertainer of the Year.

Alondra Nelson received the Digital Civil Rights Award.

All nominees are listed below,^[6][7][8] and the winners will be listed in bold.^[9][10][11]

Special Awards

President's Award
Dave Chappelle
Chairman's Award
Kamala Harris
Founder's Award
BET
Hall of Fame Award
Wayans family
Vanguard Award
Essence Communications Inc.
Entertainer of the Year
Keke Palmer Cynthia Erivo Kendrick Lamar Kevin Hart Shannon Sharpe
The Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award
Jotaka Eaddy
NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award
Alondra Nelson

Motion Picture

Outstanding Motion Picture	Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
The Six Triple Eight Bad Boys: Ride or Die Bob Marley: One Love The Piano Lesson Wicked	RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys Jeymes Samuel — The Book of Clarence Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson Reinaldo Marcus Green — Bob Marley: One Love Steve McQueen — Blitz
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Martin Lawrence — Bad Boys: Ride or Die André Holland — Exhibiting Forgiveness Colman Domingo — Sing Sing John David Washington — The Piano Lesson Kingsley Ben-Adir — Bob Marley: One Love	Kerry Washington — The Six Triple Eight Cynthia Erivo — Wicked Lashana Lynch — Bob Marley: One Love Lupita Nyong'o — A Quiet Place: Day One Regina King — Shirley
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington — Gladiator II Brian Tyree Henry — The Fire Inside Corey Hawkins — The Piano Lesson David Alan Grier — The American Society of Magical Negroes Samuel L. Jackson — The Piano Lesson	Ebony Obsidian — The Six Triple Eight Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Exhibiting Forgiveness Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Nickel Boys Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson Lynn Whitfield — Albany Road
Outstanding International Motion Picture	Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Emilia Pérez El lugar de la otra Memoir of a Snail The Seed of the Sacred Fig The Wall Street Boy (Kipkemboi)	Sing Sing Albany Road Exhibiting Forgiveness Rob Peace We Grown Now
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture	Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Ebony Obsidian — The Six Triple Eight Brandon Wilson — Nickel Boys Clarence Maclin — Sing Sing Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson Ryan Destiny — The Fire Inside	The Six Triple Eight Bob Marley: One Love The Book of Clarence The Piano Lesson Wicked
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture	Outstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture
Inside Out 2 Kung Fu Panda 4 Moana 2 Piece by Piece The Wild Robot	Blue Ivy Carter — Mufasa: The Lion King Aaron Pierre — Mufasa: The Lion King Anika Noni Rose — Mufasa: The Lion King Ayo Edebiri— Inside Out 2 Lupita Nyong'o — The Wild Robot
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)	Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
Superman Doesn't Steal Chocolate with Sprinkles Definitely Not a Monster If They Took Us Back My Brother & Me	Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” if(fy) Nate & John Self Walk in the Light
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)	Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson David Fortune — Color Book RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys Titus Kaphar — Exhibiting Forgiveness Zoë Kravitz — Blink Twice	RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes — Nickel Boys Barry Jenkins — The Fire Inside Steve McQueen — Blitz Titus Kaphar — Exhibiting Forgiveness Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson
Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture	Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film
Skylar Aleece Smith — The Piano Lesson Anthony B. Jenkins — The Deliverance Blake Cameron James — We Grown Now Percy Daggs IV — Never Let Go Jeremiah Daniels — Color Book	Jomo Fray — Nickel Boys Andrés Arochi — Longlegs Justin Derry — She Taught Love Lachlan Milne — Exhibiting Forgiveness Rob Hardy — The Book of Clarence

Documentary

Outstanding Documentary (Motion Picture)	Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Luther: Never Too Much Daughters Frida King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones The Greatest Night in Pop	Dawn Porter — Luther: Never Too Much Bao Nguyen — The Greatest Night in Pop Deborah Riley Draper — James Brown: Say It Loud Jason Pollard and Sam Pollard — Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys Nneka Onuorah — Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words
Outstanding Documentary (Television)	Outstanding Short Form Documentary
Black Barbie: A Documentary Black Twitter: A People's History Gospel Simone Biles Rising Sprint	How to Sue the Klan Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call Judging Juries Silent Killer

Television

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series
Cross 9-1-1 Bel-Air Found Reasonable Doubt
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Michael Rainey Jr. — Power Book II: Ghost Aldis Hodge — Cross Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith Harold Perrineau — FROM Jabari Banks — Bel-Air	Queen Latifah — The Equalizer Angela Bassett — 9-1-1 Emayatzy Corinealdi — Reasonable Doubt Shanola Hampton — Found Zoe Saldaña — Lioness
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Cliff “Method Man” Smith — Power Book II: Ghost Adrian Holmes — Bel–Air Isaiah Mustafa — Cross Jacob Latimore — The Chi Morris Chestnut — Reasonable Doubt	Lynn Whitfield — The Chi Adjoa Andoh — Bridgerton Coco Jones — Bel-Air Golda Rosheuvel — Bridgerton Lorraine Toussaint — The Equalizer
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series	Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
Rapman — Supacell Carl Franklin — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X Paris Barclay — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story	Ben Watkins — Cross Azia Squire — Bridgerton Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith Geetika Lizardi — Bridgerton Lauren Gamble — Bridgerton

Comedy

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary How to Die Alone Poppa's House The Neighborhood The Upshaws
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Damon Wayans — Poppa's House Cedric The Entertainer — The Neighborhood David Alan Grier — St. Denis Medical Delroy Lindo — UnPrisoned Mike Epps — The Upshaws	Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri — The Bear Kerry Washington — UnPrisoned Natasha Rothwell — How to Die Alone Tichina Arnold — The Neighborhood
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Damon Wayans Jr. — Poppa's House Giancarlo Esposito — The Gentlemen Kenan Thompson — Saturday Night Live Tyler James Williams — Abbott Elementary William Stanford Davis — Abbott Elementary	Danielle Pinnock — Ghosts Ego Nwodim — Saturday Night Live Janelle James — Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph — Abbott Elementary Wanda Sykes — The Upshaws
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series	Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Tiffany Johnson — How to Die Alone Ayo Edebiri — The Bear Bentley Kyle Evans — Mind Your Business Robbie Countryman — The Upshaws William Smith — The Vince Staples Show	Crystal Jenkins — No Good Deed Ashley Nicole Black — Shrinking Brittani Nichols — Abbott Elementary Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra From Detroit Jordan Temple — Abbott Elementary

Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Genius: MLK/X Griselda Rebel Ridge The Madness
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special	Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special
Aaron Pierre — Rebel Ridge Colman Domingo — The Madness Kelvin Harrison Jr. — Genius: MLK/X Kevin Hart — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Laurence Fishburne — Clipped	Naturi Naughton — Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Sanaa Lathan — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Sofía Vergara — Griselda Uzo Aduba — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Special	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Special
Samuel L. Jackson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Don Cheadle — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Luke James — Them: The Scare Ron Cephas Jones — Genius: MLK/X Terrence Howard — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist	Taraji P. Henson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Brandy Norwood — Descendants: The Rise of Red Jayme Lawson — Genius: MLK/X Loretta Devine — Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love Sanaa Lathan — Young. Wild. Free.
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special	Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special
Tina Mabry — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can Eat Kelley Kali — Kemba Marcelo Gama — BET Awards 2024 Shanta Fripp — Black Men's Summit Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free	Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free. Brandon Espy, Carl Reid — Mr. Crocket Bree West, Chazitear — A Wesley South African Christmas Rudy Mancuso, Dan Lagana — Música Tina Mabry, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Cee Marcellus — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat

Overall Acting

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)	Outstanding Guest Performance
Cree Summer — Rugrats Angela Bassett — Orion and the Dark Cree Summer — The Legend of Vox Machina Dawnn Lewis — Star Trek: Lower Decks Keke Palmer — The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy	Marlon Wayans — Bel-Air Ayo Edebiri— Saturday Night Live Cree Summer — Abbott Elementary Keegan-Michael Key — Abbott Elementary Maya Rudolph — Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series)
Leah Sava Jeffries — Percy Jackson and the Olympians Caleb Elijah — Cross Graceyn Hollingsworth — Gracie's Corner Melody Hurd — Cross TJ Mixson — The Madness

Reality and Variety

Outstanding Talk Series	Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Series or Game Show
The Jennifer Hudson Show Hart to Heart Sherri Tamron Hall The Shop (Season 7)	Celebrity Family Feud Password Rhythm + Flow The Real Housewives of Potomac Tia Mowry: My Next Act
Outstanding News / Information – (Series or Special)	Outstanding Host in a Talk or News / Information (Series or Special)
The Reidout Black Men's Summit Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Laura Coates Live NewsNight with Abby Phillip}	Jennifer Hudson – The Jennifer Hudson Show Abby Phillip – NewsNight with Abby Phillip Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Joy Reid – The Reidout Sherri Shepherd – Sherri
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)	Outstanding Host in a Reality, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special)
Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was... BET Awards 2024 Deon Cole: Ok, Mister Katt Williams: Woke Foke Saturday Night Live	Keke Palmer – Password Alfonso Ribeiro – Dancing with the Stars Nick Cannon – The Masked Singer Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud Taraji P. Henson – BET Awards 2024

Other Categories

Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special - Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary	Outstanding Animated Series
The Prince of Death Row Records In the Margins NCAA Basketball on CBS Sports Roots of Resistance SC Featured	Gracie's Corner Ariel Everybody Still Hates Chris Iwájú Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Outstanding Children's Program	Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Gracie's Corner Craig of the Creek Descendants: The Rise of Red Sesame Street Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin	Ayo Edebiri — The Bear Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra from Detroit Maurice Williams — The Madness Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free. Vince Staples — The Vince Staples Show

Costume Design, Make-up and Hairstyling

Outstanding Costume Design	Outstanding Make-up
Paul Tazewell — Wicked Ernesto Martinez — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Megan Coates — Shirley Gersha Phillips — The Big Cigar Francine Jamison-Tanchuck — The Piano Lesson	Debi Young — Shirley Carol Rasheed — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Rebecca Lee — Shōgun Matiki Anoff — The Book of Clarence Para Malden — The Piano Lesson
Outstanding Hairstyling
Lawrence Davis — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Terry Hunt — Bel-Air Nakoya Yancey — Shirley Brian Badie — The Penguin Andrea Mona Bowman — The Piano Lesson

Stunt

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)
Rebel Ridge Cross Grotesquerie Red One Them: The Scare

Recording

Outstanding Album	Outstanding New Artist
Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii Cape Town to Cairo — PJ Morton Coming Home — Usher Glorious — GloRilla	Doechii Myles Smith Samoht Shaboozey Tyla
Outstanding Male Artist	Outstanding Female Artist
Chris Brown J. Cole Kendrick Lamar October London Usher	Beyoncé Coco Jones Doechii GloRilla H.E.R.
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)	Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
"Summertime" — Adam Blackstone & Fantasia "Watcha Done Now" — Leela James feat. Kenyon Dixon "God Problems (Not by Power)" — Maverick City Music feat. Miles Minnick "Made for Me"— Muni Long & Mariah Carey "Thankful" — Sounds of Blackness feat. Jamecia Bennett & Buddy McLain	"Piece of My Heart" — Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz "In My Bag"— FLO & GloRilla "Rain Down on Me" — GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard & Chandler Moore "Coming Home" — Usher & Burna Boy "SOS (Sex on Sight)" — Victoria Monét feat. Usher
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song	Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
"Residuals" — Chris Brown "16 Carriages" — Beyoncé "Here We Go (Uh Oh)" — Coco Jones "I Found You" — PJ Morton "Saturn" — SZA	"Not Like Us" — Kendrick Lamar "Mamushi" — Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba "Murdergram Deux" — LL Cool J feat. Eminem "Noid" — Tyler, the Creator "Yeah Glo!" — GloRilla
Outstanding International Song	Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
"Hmmm" — Chris Brown feat. Davido "Close" — Skip Marley "Jump" — Tyla "Love Me JeJe” — Tems "Piece of My Heart" — Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz	"Not Like Us" — Kendrick Lamar "Alright" — Victoria Monét "Alter Ego (ALTERnate Version)" — Doechii, JT "Boy Bye" — Chloe Bailey "Yeah Glo!" — GloRilla
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film	Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
Star Wars: The Acolyte (Original Soundtrack) Challengers (Original Score) Dune: Part Two (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The American Society of Magical Negroes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) The Book of Clarence (Original Motion Picture Score)	Wicked: The Soundtrack Bob Marley: One Love (Soundtrack) Genius: MLK/X (Songs from the Original Series) Reasonable Doubt (Season 2) (Original Soundtrack) The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album	Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
Live Breathe Fight — Tamela Mann Heart of a Human — DOE Still Karen — Karen Clark Sheard Sunny Days — Yolanda Adams The Maverick Way Reimagined — Maverick City Music	"Working for Me" — Tamela Mann "Church Doors" — Yolanda Adams "Do It Anyway" — Tasha Cobbs Leonard "God Problems (Not by Power)" — Maverick City Music feat. Miles Minnick "I Prayed for You (Said a Prayer)" — Major.
Outstanding Jazz Album
Portrait — Samara Joy Creole Orchestra — Etienne Charles Epic Cool — Kirk Whalum Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies — Javon Jackson and Nikki Giovanni On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute — Matthew Whitaker

Podcast and Social Media

Outstanding News and Information Podcast	Outstanding Lifestyle/Self-Help Podcast
Native Land Pod #SundayCivics After the Uprising Into America: Uncounted Millions The Assignment with Audie Cornish	We Don't Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling Balanced Black Girl Is This Going to Cause An Argument The R Spot with Iyanla Therapy for Black Girls
Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast	Outstanding Arts, Sports and Entertainment Podcast
Club Shay Shay Baby, This is Keke Palmer Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay We Don't Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling What Now? with Trevor Noah	Two Funny Mamas Naked Sports with Cari Champion Nightcap Questlove Supreme R&B Money Podcast
Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form	Social Media Personality of the Year
Stranded About the Journey Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown The Wonder of Stevie When We Win with Maya Rupert	Shirley Raines Kai Cenat Keith Lee RaeShanda Lias Tony Baker

Literary

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction	Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
One of Us Knows: A Thriller — Alyssa Cole A Love Song for Ricki Wilde — Tia Williams Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson Neighbors and Other Stories — Diane Oliver, Tayari Jones What You Leave Behind — Wanda M. Morris	Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest — Fawn Weaver A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune — Noliwe Rooks Picturing Black History: Photographs and Stories that Changed the World — Daniela Edmeier, Damarius Johnson, Nicholas B. Breyfogle and Steven Conn The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience — Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America — Larry Tye
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author	Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson A Kind of Madness — Uche Okonkwo AfroCentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture — Shirley Neal Masquerade — O.O. Sangoyomi Swift River — Essie Chambers	Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America — JoyAnn Reid Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me — Whoopi Goldberg By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness ― Her Story in Her Own Words — Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins Do It Anyway: Don't Give Up Before It Gets Good — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Sarah Jakes Roberts Lovely One: A Memoir — Ketanji Brown Jackson
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional	Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair — Tomesha Faxio Black Joy Playbook: 30 Days of Intentionally Reclaiming Your Delight — Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggets I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free (A Feeding the Soul Book) — Tabitha Brown Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guide to Closing the Space Between Us — Chanté Griffin Radical Self-Care: Rituals for Inner Resilience — Rebecca Moore and Amberlee Green	This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets — Kwame Alexander Bluff: Poems — Danez Smith Good Dress — Brittany Rogers Load in Nine Times: Poems — Frank X Walker Song of My Softening — Omotara James
Outstanding Literary Work – Children	Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book — Taraji P. Henson and Paul Kellam All I Need to Be — Rachel Ricketts, Tiffany Rose and Luana Horry Cicely Tyson — Renée Watson and Sherry Shine Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair — Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes My Hair Is a Book — Maisha Oso and London Ladd	Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York — Samarra St. Hilaire American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky — Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein Barracoon Adapted for Young Readers The Story of the Last Black Cargo — Zora Neale Hurston, Jazzmen Lee-Johnson, Ibram X. Kendi (Adapted by) Black Star: The Door of No Return — Kwame Alexander Clutch Time: A Shot Clock Novel (Shot Clock, 2) — Caron Butler and Justin A. Reynolds
Outstanding Graphic Novel
Punk Rock Karaoke — Bianca Xunise Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined — David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson Black Defender: The Awakening — Dr. David Washington, Mr. Zhengis Tasbolatov and Mr. Billy Blanks Gamerville — Johnnie Christmas Ghost Roast — Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs and Emily Cannon