The Winners of the 2023 NAACP Image Awards [Update]

Nia Long (L), Keith David (Middle), Kirk Franklin (R)
Nia Long (L), Keith David (Middle), Kirk Franklin (R)

The NAACP Image Awards are here with 4 virtual award shows leading up to the live show on Saturday, February 25th! The winners so far range from musicians to authors and television hosts. Congratulations to the honorees!

Outstanding Album

Photo:  Kevin Winter / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Kevin Winter / Staff (Getty Images)

To nobody’s surprise, Beyoncé’s hit album Renaissance rightfully won her the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album!

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Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

Photo:  Emma McIntyre / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Emma McIntyre / Staff (Getty Images)

Our favorite duo in the music industry, Silk Sonic, snatched the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for the song “Love’s Train.” Can we get a second album from them, please?

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Photo:  Burak Cingi / Contributor (Getty Images), NBC / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Burak Cingi / Contributor (Getty Images), NBC / Contributor (Getty Images)

Chris Brown’s song featuring Wizkid. “Call Me Every Day” won a 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary).

Outstanding Female Artist

Photo:  Kevin Mazur / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Kevin Mazur / Contributor (Getty Images)

Queen Bey has been declared the NAACP Image Awards’ Outstanding Female Artist. I know that’s right!

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

Photo:  Kevork Djansezian / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Stringer (Getty Images)

The NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album was given to Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music for their album, Kingdom Book One.

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

Photo:  Amy Sussman / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Amy Sussman / Staff (Getty Images)

One half of the Mary Mary duo, Erica Campbell’s song “Positive” won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song.

Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song

Photo:  Christian Vierig / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Christian Vierig / Contributor (Getty Images)

The Migos members Quavo and the late Takeoff’s song “Hotel Lobby” won them the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song.

Outstanding International Song

Photo:  Jemal Countess / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Jemal Countess / Stringer (Getty Images)

Nigerian artist Tems has been taking the music industry by storm and it didn’t stop at the NAACP Image Awards. Tems won the award for Outstanding International Song for “No Woman No Cry”.

Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental

Photo:  Douglas Mason / Contributor (Getty Images), Michael Loccisano / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Douglas Mason / Contributor (Getty Images), Michael Loccisano / Staff (Getty Images)

The album JID014 (Jazz is Dead) by Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Adrian Younge took the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album- Instrumental.

Outstanding Male Artist

Photo:  Samir Hussein / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Samir Hussein / Contributor (Getty Images)

Chris Brown has been awarded Outstanding Male Artist for the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

Photo:  Gregory Shamus / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Gregory Shamus / Staff (Getty Images)

Rihanna’s beautiful music video for the song “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made her the winner of the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album.

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

Photo:  Alberto Rodriguez / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Alberto Rodriguez / Contributor (Getty Images)

The stunning soundtrack for Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from and inspired by – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Dave Jordan won the award for Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album.

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

Photo:  Mason Poole/Parkwood Media / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Mason Poole/Parkwood Media / Contributor (Getty Images)

The funky Tiktok sensation “Cuff It” from Beyoncé’s Renaissance won her the award for Outstanding Soul/R&B Song.

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

Photo:  Neil Mockford / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Neil Mockford / Contributor (Getty Images)

EGOT winner Viola Davis won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work- Non-Fiction for her moving book Finding Me.

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

Screenshot:  Screengrab from ElectricLiterature.com (Other)
Screenshot: Screengrab from ElectricLiterature.com (Other)

The award for Outstanding Literary Work- Instructional went to Tracey Lewis-Giggetts for Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration.

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

Photo:  Prince Williams / Contributor (Getty Images), Screenshot from HarperCollins.com (Other)
Photo: Prince Williams / Contributor (Getty Images), Screenshot from HarperCollins.com (Other)

The beloved Stacey Abrams teamed up with illustrator Kitt Thomas to create Stacey’s Remarkable Books which won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work- Children.

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography

Photo:  David Livingston / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: David Livingston / Stringer (Getty Images)

“Scenes from My Life: A Memoir”, about the life of the late Michael K. Williams with co-author Jon Sternfeld won the award for Outstanding Literary Work- Biography/Autobiography.

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

Photo:  Screenshot from CityArts.net (Other)
Photo: Screenshot from CityArts.net (Other)

The NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work-Debut Author went to George McCalman who wrote Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen.

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

Photo:  Frazer Harrison / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Frazer Harrison / Staff (Getty Images)

Dolen Perkins-Valdez won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work- Fiction for the book Take My Hand.

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

Photo:  Michael Kovac / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Michael Kovac / Contributor (Getty Images)

The award for Outstanding Literary Work- Poetry went to Robin Coste Lewis for “To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness”.

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

Harper Amos (L) and Shawn Amos (R)
Harper Amos (L) and Shawn Amos (R)

Songwriter, musician, author, and entrepreneur Shawn Amos wrote his first novel Cookies and Milk which won him the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work- Youth/Teens.

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

Screenshot:  Screen grab from Hulu.com (Other)
Screenshot: Screen grab from Hulu.com (Other)

Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts sat down with our forever First Lady, Michelle Obama, to discuss her book The Light We Carry. The interview was awarded Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special).

Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special)

Photo:  Kevin Winter / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Kevin Winter / Staff (Getty Images)

Trevor Noah stepped away from hosting The Daily Show with Trevor Noah but was given one last award from the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special).

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series

Screenshot:  Screengrab from Youtube.com (Other)
Screenshot: Screengrab from Youtube.com (Other)

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls is a competition show following a group of women auditioning to be one of the pop superstar’s backup dancers. The show has won the award for Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series.

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

Screenshot:  Screengrab from JenniferHudsonShow.com (Other)
Screenshot: Screengrab from JenniferHudsonShow.com (Other)

EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson won the 2023 award for Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special)- Individual or Ensemble for hosting The Jennifer Hudson Show, also known as the talk show where guests get the chance to sing with the powerhouse vocalist.

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

Screenshot:  Screengrab from Youtube.com (Other)
Screenshot: Screengrab from Youtube.com (Other)

Our favorite internet personality Tabitha Brown deservedly won the 2023 award for Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special)- Individual or Ensemble for her children’s show, Tab Time.

Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

Image:  Screen grab from Imdb.com (Other)
Image: Screen grab from Imdb.com (Other)

More Than I Want to Remember, an animated short about a 14-year-old refugee from Congo won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short-Form (Animated).

Outstanding Animated Series


The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 2 | Official Trailer | Disney+

The award for Outstanding Animated Series went to Disney’s The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action)

Image:  Screen grab from Imdb.com (Other)
Image: Screen grab from Imdb.com (Other)

The live-action short film Dear Mama follows a father and daughter’s coping with the death of a family member while also reacting to the death of Tupac. The short won the award for Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action).

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–series)

Photo:  Tommaso Boddi / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Tommaso Boddi / Stringer (Getty Images)

Ja’Siah Young won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series) for his excellent portrayal of Dion in Netflix’s Raising Dion.

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

Photo:  Dia Dipasupil / Staff (Getty Images)
Photo: Dia Dipasupil / Staff (Getty Images)

Keke Palmer voiced the astronaut Izzy Hawthorne in Disney’s Lightyear. She won the award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance- Motion Picture

Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction


Daring Simone Biles Trailer | Snap Originals

Gymnastics Olympian Simone Biles takes on new challenges in the Snapchat series Daring Simone Biles. The show won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special- Reality/Nonfiction.

Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama

Image:  Screen grab from Paramountplus.com (Other)
Image: Screen grab from Paramountplus.com (Other)

The segment on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah- Between the Scenes, when the host interacts with the audience during commercial breaks, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short-Form Series- Comedy or Drama.

Outstanding Children’s Program

Tabitha Brown’s adorable children’s show, Tab Time, won the award for Outstanding Children’s Program.

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)

Photo:  Unique Nicole / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Unique Nicole / Stringer (Getty Images)

The award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performace goes to Kyla Pratt for voicing the character Penny Proud in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2022-), she has been voicing Penny since the original series, The Proud Family (2001-2005).

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture


Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Official Trailer

The casting in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is unmatched and that was proven with a win for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture.

Outstanding Guest Performance

Photo:  Alberto Rodriguez/GA / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/GA / Contributor (Getty Images)

Glynn Turman’s portrayal of the character, Ernest Bordelon in OWN’s Queen Sugar, won him a 2023 NAACP Image Award for Oustanding Guest Performance.

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Photo:  Brian Feinzimer / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Brian Feinzimer / Contributor (Getty Images)

Ericka Nicole Malone won the award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) as the producer for Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story.

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)

Photo:  Roy Rochlin / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Roy Rochlin / Stringer (Getty Images)

Quinta Brunson won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) for creating the hit ABC series, Abbott Elementary.

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

Photo:  Jon Kopaloff / Stringer (Getty Images)
Photo: Jon Kopaloff / Stringer (Getty Images)

Nia Long’s performance in The Best Man: The Final Chapters as Jordan Armstrong won her the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special.

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

Photo:  Amanda Edwards / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Amanda Edwards / Contributor (Getty Images)

Keith David won the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special as Hershel Wheeler, Zoe Saldana’s character’s father in Netflix’s From Scratch.

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