The winners at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards were Will Smith and Jennifer Hudson, who received prestigious accolades. The virtual show was broadcasted on multiple ViacomCBS sister networks and aired on BET. The awards ceremony took place on February 26th.
Aretha Franklin, a remarkable actress and entertainer, won two awards in the picture motion category for her outstanding performance. Unfortunately, she was overlooked for the best original song and best actress nominations at the Oscars, which is quite disappointing.
Viola Davis has won the NAACP Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture award for the second year in a row, playing the iconic music legend, Ma Rainey, in the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
The Oscars will witness a rematch of the actors on March 27. This year, Washington received a nomination for The Tragedy of Macbeth, a movie that has won 13 times in this particular category. However, this is the first instance where he has triumphed over Denzel Washington. This victory marks his second win in the same category, the first being in 2009 for Seven Pounds. Smith, on the other hand, secured the distinguished title of outstanding actor in a motion picture for his remarkable portrayal in King Richard.
Respect and The United States vs. Billie Holiday were overlooked for Oscar best picture nominations, along with Judas and the Black Messiah and King Richard, which is a nominee for the Oscar best picture category. The Harder They Fall triumphed over Just Mercy and Bad Boys for Life, the previous two victors in the same category, and it did not receive an Oscar nomination for best picture. The exceptional motion picture award was won by The Harder They Fall, a film produced by Netflix.
Regina King. won the award for outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture, while Samuel won for outstanding album soundtrack/compilation. Samuel Jeymes received the award for outstanding creative breakthrough in a motion picture, and the cast ensemble of the film Fall They Harder won the award for outstanding ensemble in a motion picture.
The NAACP Image Award nominations for this year were primarily influenced by “The Harder They Fall” and the HBO series “Insecure,” garnering 12 nominations each.
Issa Rae, star of the comedy series “Insecure,” won the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series award for the second year in a row. After a six-year reign, “black-ish” ended its run as an outstanding comedy series.
Anthony Anderson, the star of black-ish, hosted the NAACP Image Awards for the ninth year. He also won the award for outstanding actor in a comedy series for the seventh time.
Hannah-Nikole Jones, the creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project, was presented with the Impact Justice Social Award. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry received the President’s Award. Samuel L. Jackson was presented with the NAACP Chairman’s Actor Award.
Mary J. Blige, who won the Best Supporting Actress award at the NAACP Image Awards earlier this week for her role in the series drama Power Book II: Ghost, filmed a medley of songs in the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, which included her performance of “Gorgeous Morning Good.”
An entire week, the NAACP Image Awards followed the lead of the Primetime Emmys’ Creative Arts Awards in stripping their pre-telecast awards.
Ella Mai’s Ella Mai, Beyoncé’s Homecoming: The Live Album, and Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo emerged victorious in the past three years. For the fourth consecutive year, a female solo artist has clinched the award. Her album, Heaux Tales, triumphed as the outstanding album. The music categories, unveiled on Feb. 24, saw Jazmine Sullivan emerge as the major victor this year.
Here is a link to Billboard’s coverage of the awards before the telecast, night by night.
These are the victors in the categories shown on the broadcast.
Performer of the year.
VICTOR: Jennifer Hudson.
Lil Nas X.
Megan Thee Stallion.
Regina King.
Tiffany Haddish.
Exceptional film.
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros. Pictures).
King Richard (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing).
WINNER: The Tougher They Collapse (Netflix).
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films).
Remarkable performer in a film.
Denzel Washington stars in The Tragedy of Macbeth, a film available on Apple TV+ and produced by A24.
Jonathan Majors stars in the Netflix film “The Harder They Fall”.
LaKeith Stanfield stars in Judas and the Black Messiah, a film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures..
Mahershala Ali stars in the Apple TV+ film “Swan Song”.
WINNER: Will Smith – King Richard (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Exceptional actress in a film.
Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original / New Slate Ventures / Lee Daniels Entertainment / Roth-Krischenbaum Films)..
Halle Berry – Bruised (Netflix).
WINNER: Jennifer Hudson – Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing).
Tessa Thompson stars in the Netflix movie “Passing”.
Zendaya stars in the Netflix film “Malcolm & Marie”.
Exceptional comedy show.
Black-ish (ABC).
Harlem (Amazon Studios).
WINNER: Insecure (HBO).
Manage the World (Starz).
The Upshaws (Netflix series).
Exceptional performer in a comedic television show.
WINNER: Anthony Anderson – Black-ish (ABC).
Cedric the Comedian – The Community (CBS).
Don Cheadle stars in the television series “Black Monday” on Showtime.
Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams – The Wonder Years (ABC).
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO).
Exceptional actress in a comedic series.
VICTOR: Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO).
Loretta Devine – Family Gathering (Netflix).
Regina Hall stars in the television series “Black Monday” on Showtime.
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish (ABC).
Yvonne Orji – Insecure (HBO).
Exceptional performer in a theatrical series.
Billy Porter – Pose (FX Network).
Damson Idris – Snowfall (FX Channel).
Forest Whitaker is known as the Godfather of Harlem on the television network EPIX.
Kofi Siriboe stars in the television series Queen Sugar, which is aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
WINNER: Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC).
Exceptional actress in a dramatic series.
VICTOR: Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX).
Dawn-Lyen Gardner is known for her role in the television series “Queen Sugar” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Octavia Spencer stars in the TV show “Truth Be Told” on Apple TV+.
Queen Latifah stars in The Equalizer on CBS.
Rutina Wesley stars in the television series “Queen Sugar” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Here is a link to a comprehensive roster of candidates for the 53rd yearly NAACP Image Awards.