NAACP Image Awards: Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi and Reginald Hudlin Win at Final Night of Virtual Ceremonies

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Reginald Hudlin were among the winners at the final night of virtual NAACP Image Awards, which honored podcasts, writing and directing. Mescudi took home outstanding writing in a TV movie or special, alongside Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams, for “Entergalactic.”

Hudlin’s work on “Sidney” earned him the Image Award for outstanding directing in a documentary. The award marked the first NAACP Image win for both Mescudi and Hudlin, though it was Hudlin’s fifth nomination.

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Other winners included the podcast “Beyond the Scenes – The Daily Show” and Angela Barnes for her directing in “Atlanta.”

The presenters at Thursday’s virtual ceremony were Cassandra Freeman (“Inside Man,” “Luke Cage”), Josh Banday (“Upload,” “Not Dead Yet”) and William Stanford Davis (“Abbott Elementary,” “Snowpiercer”). Freeman announced the podcast winners, Banday the writers and Davis the directors.

Also on Thursday, ahead of the fourth night of the virtual presentations, the NAACP hosted a fashion show luncheon to present the newest addition to the NAACP Image Awards: honors for hairstyling, make-up and costume design.

The 54th NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Queen Latifah, will be broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET on BET. It will also simulcast across Paramount Global networks, including BET HER, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, LOGO, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, POP TV, Smithsonian, TV Land, and VH1.

Throughout the week, the NAACP will award kudos during four virtual ceremonies, hosted by Khleo Thomas, that are livestreamed on NAACPImageAwards.net.

The virtual awards presentation, as well as the fashion show luncheon on Thursday afternoon and non-televised awards dinner on Friday night, all lead up to the live telecast on Saturday evening. Many of the top categories will be awarded during the ceremony — the first held in-person since February 2020 — including entertainer of the year, a category which boasts a quintet of multitalented Black women: Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya.

The Image Awards celebrate artists within motion picture, television, music and literary categories, including streaming and other digital media.

Leading the nominees in this year’s motion picture categories is “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” with 12 total nods, followed by “The Woman King” (which nabbed nine nominations), “Till,” (seven nominations), “Emancipation” (five nominations) and “A Jazzman’s Blues” (four nominations).

“Abbott Elementary” leads the TV race with nine nods, followed by “Black-ish” and “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” which tied with seven each. TV dramas “Queen Sugar” and “P-Valley” were also well-represented with six nominations, a figured equalled by “From Scratch” and “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” in the TV movie, limited series or dramatic special race.

Here is a complete list of winners for the 54th NAACP Image Awards, which will be updated throughout the week:

Thursday, Feb. 23

Outstanding Podcast – News and Information

“Beyond the Scenes – The Daily Show”

Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture

“LeVar Burton Reads”

Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle / Self-Help

“Therapy for Black Girls”

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Brittani Nichols – “Abbott Elementary” – Season 1, Episode 5: “Student Transfer”

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Marissa Jo Cerar – “Women of the Movement” – Episode 101

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special

Scott Mescudi (Story By), Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams – “Entergalactic”

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Angela Barnes – “Atlanta” – Season 4, Episode 2: “The Homeliest Little Horse”

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito – “Better Call Saul” – Season 6, Episode 6: “Axe and Grind”

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Anton Cropper – “Fantasy Football”

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary

Reginald Hudlin – “Sidney”

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film)

Ruth E. Carter – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film)

Debi Young, Sandra Linn, Ngozi Olandu Young, Gina Bateman – “We Own This City” (HBO Max)

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film)

Camille Friend – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Marvel Studios)

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Quinta Brunson, the cast of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Kyla Pratt of “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” were among the winners at the third night of the virtual NAACP Image Awards, which honored short-form series, children’s programs and limited television series.

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut (“Star Trek: Picard”), Carl Tart (“Grand Crew”) and Skyh Black (“All the Queen’s Men”) presented the outstanding ensemble performance, short form series awards and character voice-over performances at the virtual awards show.

Quinta Brunson received the outstanding breakthrough creative (television) award, for her ABC sitcom, “Abbott Elementary.” While the sitcom is only in its second season, the series has received three Emmys, two Critics Choice awards, three Golden Globes and received nine NAACP Image nominations.

Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” took home the outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture award, another win for the sequel, following the outstanding soundtrack/compilation album prize for the soundtrack and the outstanding music video/visual album award for Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up,” which was written for the film.

Outstanding Short Form Series (Comedy or Drama) 

“Between the Scenes: The Daily Show”

Outstanding Short Form Series (Reality/Non-Fiction) 

“Daring Simone Biles”

Outstanding Short Form Series (Live Action) 

“Dear Mama…”

Outstanding Short Form Series (Animated) 

“More Than I Want to Remember”

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)

Keke Palmer — “Lightyear”

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Kyla Pratt — “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”

Outstanding Performance by A Youth Work  (Series, Special, Television Movie, or Limited Series)

Ja’siah Young — “Raising Dion”

Outstanding Animated Program 

“The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”

Outstanding Children’s Program 

“Tab Time with Tabitha Brown”

Outstanding Guest Performance

Glynn Turman — “Queen Sugar”

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Ericka Nicole Malone – “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special

Nia Long – “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”

Outstanding Supporting Actor  in A Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special

Keith David —  “From Scratch”

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Tuesday, Feb. 21

Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson, Stacey Abrams and Tabitha Brown were among the winners at the second night of the virtual NAACP Image Awards, which honored literary works, reality TV and game shows.

Davis took home the outstanding literary nonfiction award, her sixth career win from the awards body, for “Finding Me.” The memoir brought her to EGOT status earlier this month, landing a Grammy for best spoken word or non-musical album. Her recent film “The Woman King” also earned her a BAFTA nod for leading actress.

Hudson, a fellow EGOT winner, win in the category of outstanding host in a talk or news/information series or special for “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” The award marked her fourth Image Award win.

Tabitha Brown took home her second Image Award for outstanding host in a reality/reality competition game show or variety series or special for “Tab Time,” and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams won outstanding children’s literary work alongside Kitt Thomas for “Stacey’s Remarkable Books.”

Terrence Terrell, Hailie Sahar and Jotaka Eaddy presented at the virtual awards show. Eaddy, CEO of Full Circle Strategies, presented the literary awards and emphasized the importance of reading. Sahar (“Pose,” “Good Trouble”) presented the remaining literary categories and Terrell (“B Positive, “Bigger”) announced the TV awards.

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction 

“Take My Hand” – Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction 

“Finding Me” – Viola Davis

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author 

“Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen” – George McCalman

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography 

“Scenes from My Life” – Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional 

“Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration” – Tracey Lewis-Giggetts

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry 

“To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness” – Robin Coste Lewis

Outstanding Literary Work – Children 

“Stacey’s Remarkable Books” – Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens 

“Cookies & Milk” – Shawn Amos

Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special)

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Tabitha Brown – “Tab Time”

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series

“Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls”

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Jennifer Hudson – “The Jennifer Hudson Show”

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

“ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts”

Monday, Feb. 20

Just weeks after becoming the most-awarded artist in the history of the Grammys, Beyoncé’s reign continued at the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, where she added three more awards to her trophy case.

During Monday night’s non-televised virtual experience, Queen Bey was named this year’s outstanding female artist, while her hit record “Renaissance” won outstanding album and “Cuff It” took home the prize for outstanding soul/R&B song.

Beyoncé had been tied with Kendrick Lamar for the most nominations, with five apiece. Both artists were nominated in the outstanding music video/visual album category, but the trophy went to Rihanna for her “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ballad, “Lift Me Up.” (The Marvel film was also awarded the outstanding soundtrack/compilation album prize.) Beyoncé’s fifth nomination came in the outstanding duo, group or collaboration (contemporary) category, but that award went to “Call Me Every Day” from Chris Brown feat. Wizkid, one of Brown’s two wins for the night. Brown also took home the prize for outstanding male artist for his album “Breezy”.

Beyoncé now has 25 NAACP Image Awards over the course of her career, including wins for entertainer of the year in 2004 and 2019. This year marks her fourth win for outstanding female artist, after taking home the trophy in 2015, 2017 and 2021, the year she broke the record for the most NAACP Image Awards in history. She also has five NAACP Image Awards for outstanding duo or group with Destiny’s Child.

Presenters for Monday night’s ceremony were Crystal Renee Hayslett, Echo Kellum and Jotaka Eaddy.

Outstanding International Song
“No Woman No Cry” – Tems

Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental
“JID014 (Jazz is Dead)” – Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Positive” – Erica Campbell

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Kingdom Book One” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Silk Sonic – “Love’s Train”

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Chris Brown feat. Wizkid – “Call Me Every Day”

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Lift Me Up” – Rihanna

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – Music From and Inspired By – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Dave Jordan

Outstanding Male Artist
Chris Brown – “BREEZY” (Deluxe)

Outstanding Female Artist
Beyoncé – “Renaissance”

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Cuff It” – Beyoncé

Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song
“Hotel Lobby” – Quavo, Takeoff

Outstanding Album
“Renaissance” – Beyoncé

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