The 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards are underway, with acts like Victoria Monét and projects like “The Color Purple” taking home awards during the virtual ceremony.
While the official ceremony will air on Saturday, the NAACP Image Awards are announcing winners all week as part of their three-day show hosted by Khleo Thomas. The winners in recording and literary categories were announced on Monday, March 11, according to Variety, with some of the biggest stars of the genres taking home major awards.
Monét, who has had a breakout year with her debut album “Jaguar II,” earned her first two Image Awards of her career. The “On My Mama” singer won Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Album. “The Color Purple” also nabbed an award for Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album. The soundtrack includes performances from the star-studded cast of the film, including Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., and more!
Other winners include Chris Brown — who won for “How We Roll” with Ciara and “Sensational (featuring Davido & Lojay)” — and Usher, winning Outstanding Male Artist fresh off his successful Super Bowl performance.
The “55th NAACP Image Awards” will air on March 16, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
Check out the full winners list from night 1 below:
Outstanding International Song
“Me & U” – Tems
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Brand New Life” – Brandee Younger
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Father’s Day” – Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
“How We Roll” – Ciara feat. Chris Brown
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
“Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“The Color Purple – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Producers
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” – Jongnic Bontemps
Outstanding Male Artist
“Good Good” – Usher with 21 Savage x Summer Walker
Outstanding Female Artist
“The Journey” – H.E.R.
Outstanding New Artist
“Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét
Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion
Outstanding Album
“Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Family Lore” – Elizabeth Acevedo
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“The New Brownies’ Book” – Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“Rootless” – Krystle Zara Appiah
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography
“Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’” – Jarrett Hill and Tre’vell Anderson
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
“The Talk” – Darrin Bell
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Suddenly We” – Evie Shockley
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” – Kahran Bethencourt
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Everyone’s Thinking It” – Aleema Omotoni