52nd NAACP Image Awards Announces Nominees — Method Man, Chika, Tamika Mallory, ‘Lovecraft Country,’ And All Of Kenya Barris’ Shows Make The List

It’s that time of year again for the prestigious NAACP Image Awards, an event that celebrates the excellent contributions of Black talent in the arts and social justice. The lucky nominees were announced on the NAACP Image Awards Instagram early on Tuesday morning by actors Nicco Annan (P-Valley), Living Single’s Erika Alexander and Terrence C. Carson, Anika Noni-Rose (Jingle Jangle), and Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish).

The 2021 nominee list is a competitive one with nominations for actors from hit series Lovecraft Country, P-Valley, Bridgerton, Power Book II: Ghost, Insecure, and many more popular shows. Up for entertainer of the year are D-Nice, Regina King, Trevor Noah, Tyler Perry and Viola Davis. Fan favorites and Hollywood royalty Will Smith, the late Chadwick Boseman, Clifford “Method Man” Smith, and Issa Rae, are also listed as nominees.

The new category for the Social Justice Impact Award includes nominees White House Correspondent April Ryan, choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, professional NBA player LeBron James, politician Stacey Abrams, and civil and human rights activist Tamika Mallory.

Netflix leads with 48 nominations across the motion picture and television categories, Beyoncé leads with six nominations in the recording categories and HarperCollins Publishers leads with nine nominations in the literary categories.

The awards ceremony will be executive produced by Reginald Hudlin of Hudlin Entertainment and Phil Gurin of The Gurin Company, also joining is co-executive producer Byron Phillips and producer Robin Reinhardt. This year’s event will be sponsored in part by Wells Fargo, FedEx and Alaska Airlines.

Recognized as the nation’s preeminent multicultural awards show from an African-American perspective, the NAACP Image Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts and those who promote social justice through their creative work.

Due to COVID-19, the ceremonies will be virtual with award categories that are not broadcast during the live show taking place over a live stream.

The 52^nd NAACP Image Awards will air live on BET Saturday, March 27 at 7:00 PM CST.

See the full list of nominees below, along with their social media handles:

🎵 Outstanding Male Artist:
@Bigsean
@Blackthought
@ImCharlieWilson
@Champagnepapi
@JohnLegend

🎵 Outstanding Female Artist:
@AliciaKeys
@Beyonce
@HERmusicofficial
@JazmineSullivan
@Ledisi

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song:
“Cool Off” – @missymisdemeanorelliott
“Deep Reverence – @bigsean featuring @NipseyHussle
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – @ChampagnePapi
“Life is Good” – @Future & @ChampagnePapi
“Savage Remix” – @theestallion featuring @Beyonce

🎵 Outstanding Soul/R&B Song:
“I Can’t Breathe” – @HERmusicofficial
“Anything For You” – @Ledisi
“B.S.” – @JheneAiko featuring @HERmusicofficial
“Black Parade” – @Beyonce
“Do It” – @ChloexHalle

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album:
‘Chosen Vessel’ – @MarvinSapp
‘Gospel According to PJ’ – @PJMorton
‘I AM’ – @KorynHawthorne
‘Kierra’ – @KierraSheard
‘The Return’ – @TheLegendaryClarkSisters

🎵 Outstanding New Artist:
@Chikalogy
@Dojacat
@SkipMarley
@Dsmoke7
@Giveon

🎵 Outstanding Album:
‘Alicia’ – @AliciaKeys
‘b7’ – @Brandy
‘Bigger Love’ – @JohnLegend
‘Chilombo’ – @JheneAiko
‘The Wild Card’ – @Ledisi

📺 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
@AndreBraugher – @nbcbrooklyn99
@DeonCole – @Blackishabc
@Jayrellis – @Insecurehbo
@KenanThompson – @NBCSNL
#LaurenceFishburne – @Blackishabc

📺 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
@JeniferLewisforreal – @Blackishabc
@MarsaiMartin – @Blackishabc
@NatashaRothwell – @Insecurehbo
@TichinaArnold – @TheNeighborhood
@YvonneOrji – @Insecurehbo

📺 Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series:
@AnthonyAnderson – @Blackishabc
@CedTheEntertainer – @TheNeighborhood
@DonCheadle – @ShoBlackMonday
@IdrisElba – @IntheLongRuntv
@TracyMorgan – @TheLastOGtbs

📺 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series:
@IssaRae – @Insecurehbo
@ReginaHall – @ShoBlackMonday
@TraceeEllisRoss – @Blackishabc
@YaraShahidi – @Grownish
@TheFolake – @Bobheartsabishola

📺 Outstanding Comedy Series:
@BlackAFnetflix
@Blackishabc
@Grownish
@Insecurehbo
@TheLastOGtbs

📺 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
@MethodManofficial – @Ghoststarz
#DelroyLindo – @the_good_fight
@J_Fonz – @PValleystarz
@JfreeWright – @Westworldhbo
@BKBMG – @Lovecrafthbo

📺 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
@Adjoa.Andoh – @Bridgertonnetflix
#AunjanueEllis – @Lovecrafthbo
@MsLynnWhitfield – @Greenleafown
@TheRealMaryJBlige – @Ghoststarz
@SusanKelechiWatson – @nbcThisisus

📺 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series:
#JonathanMajors – @Lovecrafthbo
@Silverthroat – @Greenleafown
@AllDayNicco – @PValleystarz
@RegeJean – @Bridgertonnetflix
@SterlingKBrown – @nbcThisisus

📺 Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series:
@Im.angelabassett – @911onfox
@Therealbrandee – @PValleystarz
@JurneeSmollett – @Lovecrafthbo
@SimoneMissick – @Allrisecbs
@ViolaDavis – @howtogetawaywithmurder

📺 Outstanding Drama Series:
@Allrisecbs
@Bridgertonnetflix
@Lovecrafthbo
@Ghoststarz
@nbcThisisus

📺 Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special):
@DonLemoncnn – @CNNTonight
@JadaPinkettSmith – @Redtabletalk
@JoyAnnReid – @TheReidout
@KingJames – The Shop @uninterrupted
@TrevorNoah – @Thedailyshow

📺 Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show:
Celebrity Family Feud – @familyfeudabc
Iyanla: Fix My Life – @IyanlaVanzant, @owntv
@SharkTankabc
United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell – @wkamaubell, @CNN
@VoicesofFire, @netflix

🎬 Outstanding Animated Motion Picture:
@PixarOnward
@OvertheMoonmovie
@Scoob
@PixarSoul
@Trolls