The 57th NAACP Image Awards week commenced on Monday with notable figures such as former first lady Michelle Obama and rapper Kendrick Lamar taking home early accolades. Obama’s latest book, “The Look,” which delves into her style evolution post-White House, secured the award for outstanding literary work in the biography/autobiography category. On the other hand, Lamar’s captivating Super Bowl halftime performance earned him the outstanding short-form series or special – reality/nonfiction/documentary award. Both Obama and Lamar have been previous winners at the Image Awards, with Obama winning in 2019 for her memoir “Becoming” and Lamar boasting nine trophies from the NAACP, including two for his 2025 hit “Not Like Us.”
The awards were unveiled during the first night of a three-night virtual event, where winners were announced across more than 90 categories spanning film, television, streaming, music, literature, and podcasts. The pre-show ceremony, hosted by Angel “ThatChickAngel” Laketa Moore and Khleo Thomas, was exclusively streamed on YouTube and NAACP+ and primarily focused on the literary categories along with two digital content creator awards. In a pioneering move, the NAACP Image Awards introduced gaming categories, with Berlin Edmond Jr., also known as Berleezy, clinching the top prize.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards telecast is scheduled to air live on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS, with Deon Cole returning as the host for the show, broadcasted from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” leads the nominations with a whopping 18 nods, while the recently concluded Peacock series “Bel-Air” leads the TV categories with seven nominations. The nominees for Entertainer of the Year, a signature category of the show, include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor.
Special honorees for this year’s NAACP Image Awards week include Viola Davis, who will be presented with the Chairman’s Award; Colman Domingo, the President’s Award honoree; A$AP Rocky, set to receive the Vanguard Award for fashion; and Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, who will be honored with the prestigious Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.
For a full list of winners from night one, viewers can watch the virtual pre-show ceremony with the video provided above. Some of the notable winners include Michelle Obama for “The Look” in the Biography/Autobiography category, Juanita Tolliver for “A More Perfect Party” in the Non-Fiction category, Will Packer for “Who Better Than You?” in the Instructional category, and many more across various literary genres.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards celebration promises to be a star-studded event honoring excellence in the arts and entertainment industry, with a diverse range of categories recognizing the talents and contributions of individuals across different creative fields.
