Victoria Monét, Usher, ‘The Color Purple’ Lead First Round Of 2024 NAACP Image Award Wins

The NAACP Image Awards are officially underway, as they’ve begun to announce the winners for 2024.

The first of their three-day virtual ceremonies took place on Monday (March 11). Actor Khleo Thomas hosted, with winners within the recording and literary categories revealed. Presenters included Bellah from Hulu’s Queenie, Da’Vinchi from Starz’s BMF, Danielle Jalade from Disney’s Saturdays, Gabrielle Nevaeh from Nickelodeon’s That Girl Lay Lay, and Vanessa Simmons from BET+’s Deadly Entanglement.

Victoria Monét received the most nominations in the recording categories and took home wins for Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Album. Usher won for Outstanding Male Artist, while H.E.R. won for Outstanding Female Artist. Chris Brown took home two wins, stemming from his hit collaborations with Ciara for “How We Roll” and with Davido and Lojay for “Sensational.”

The Color Purple landed its first win—out of 16 potential wins—for Outstanding Soundtrack or Compilation Album. The stacked soundtrack features music from its all-star cast including Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., and Danielle Brooks, as well as music from Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Coco Jones, and more.

The 55th annual NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Queen Latifah, will broadcast live from The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Special honorees include June Ambrose, Amanda Gorman, New Edition, and Frankie Beverly.

The full list of Night One winners from the virtual Image Awards ceremony are listed 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

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