Drake, 'The Harder They Fall,' Regina King, Snag NAACP Image Awards Noms

By Rivea Ruff · Updated January 19, 2022

The NAACP Image Awards nominations list has officially been announced.

The organization held a virtual nomination event for this year’s award ceremony via Instagram, announcing nods for heavy hitters in media and music. Hosted by black-ish star Marcus Scribner, actress Kyla Pratt, and pop songstress Tinashe, the event covered nominees in over 80 categories across film, television, streaming, music, literature, podcasts, and social media.

Leading the pack is The Harder They Fall, which swept the film categories and saw individual nods for most of its cast, including Outstanding Actor and for Jonathan Majors, Outstanding Supporting Actor for both Delroy Lindo and Idris Elba, Outstanding Supporting Actress for both Danielle Deadwyler and Regina King, and Outstanding Motion Picture Soundtrack, just to name a few.

Regina King is set to be one of the evening’s major players, nominated for Entertainer of the Year alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X, and Tiffany Haddish.

Both Cynthia Erivo‘s and Jennifer Hudson’s individual portrayals of Aretha Franklin snagged multiple nominations for film and streaming categories. Erivo was also nominated for Outstanding New Artist for her debut R&B album 1+1.

On the music front, Drake, Silk Sonic, H.E.R., Giveōn, and Jazmine Sullivan will battle it out for Outstanding Album. Drake is also nominated in both the Outstanding Male Artist and Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song categories, as well as Outstanding Collaboration for his hit song “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Young Thug and Future.

“The BET team is immensely proud to continue our partnership with the NAACP and the annual Image Awards, underpinning our longstanding legacy of celebrating Black excellence,” BET president and CEO Scott Mills told Variety. “It is an extraordinary privilege to provide our unparalleled platforms to recognize the vast contributions of Black creators, in a way that only BET and NAACP can.”

The 2022 NAACP Image Awards will air on February 26 at 8 pm on BET. Hosted by Anthony Anderson, the live broadcast will not have an audience present due to current COVID conditions. Voting is now open to the public at NAACPImageAwards.net.

The complete list of nominees is available via the NAACP Image Awards site as well. Take a look at highlights of the film, streaming, and music categories below:

01

Entertainer of the Year

Lil Nas X Jennifer Hudson Megan Thee Stallion Regina King Tiffany Haddish

02

Outstanding Motion Picture

The Harder They Fall Judas and the Black Messiah King Richard Respect The United States vs. Billie Holiday

03

LaKeith Stanfield

LaKeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth Jonathan Majors – The Harder They Fall Mahershala Ali – Swan Song Will Smith – King Richard

04

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Zendaya – Malcolm & Marie Andra Day – The United States vs. Billie Holiday Halle Berry – Bruised Jennifer Hudson – Respect Tessa Thompson – Passing

05

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Algee Smith – Judas and the Black Messiah Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah Delroy Lindo – The Harder They Fall Idris Elba – The Harder They Fall LaKeith Stanfield – The Harder They Fall

06

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard Audra McDonald – Respect Danielle Deadwyler – The Harder They Fall Dominique Fishback – Judas and the Black Messiah Regina King – The Harder They Fall

07

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

Bruised American Skin CODA Test Pattern The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

08

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Ariana DeBose – West Side Story Danny Boyd, Jr. – Bruised Jalon Christian – A Journal For Jordan Lonnie Chavis – The Water Man Sheila Atim – Bruised

09

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

King Richard Coming 2 America Judas and the Black Messiah Respect The Harder They Fall

10

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

Letitia Wright – Sing 2 Andre Braugher – Spirit Untamed Awkwafina – Raya and the Last Dragon Brian Tyree Henry – Vivo Eric André – Sing 2

11

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Jamila Wignot – Ailey Jeymes Samuel – The Harder They Fall Liesl Tommy – Respect Rebecca Hall – Passing

12

Outstanding Comedy Series

Harlem black-ish Insecure Run the World The Upshaws

13

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Don Cheadle – Black Monday Anthony Anderson – black-ish Cedric the Entertainer – The Neighborhood Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams – The Wonder Years Jay Ellis – Insecure

14

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Tracee Ellis Ross – black-ish Issa Rae – Insecure Loretta Devine – Family Reunion Regina Hall – Black Monday

15

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Kendrick Sampson – Insecure Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine Deon Cole – black-ish Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live Laurence Fishburne – black-ish

16

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Marsai Martin – black-ish Amanda Seales – Insecure Jenifer Lewis – black-ish Natasha Rothwell – Insecure Wanda Sykes – The Upshaws

17

Outstanding Drama Series

Pose Queen Sugar 9-1-1 All American Godfather of Harlem

18

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Damson Idris – Snowfall Billy Porter – Pose Forest Whitaker – Godfather of Harlem Kofi Siriboe – Queen Sugar Sterling K. Brown – This is Us

19

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 Dawn-Lyen Gardner – Queen Sugar Octavia Spencer – Truth Be Told Queen Latifah – The Equalizer Rutina Wesley – Queen Sugar

20

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost Alex R. Hibbert – The Chi Daniel Ezra – All American Giancarlo Esposito – Godfather of Harlem Joe Morton – Our Kind of People

21

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Mary J. Blige – Power Book II: Ghost Alfre Woodard – SEE Bianca Lawson – Queen Sugar Chandra Wilson – Grey’s Anatomy Susan Kelechi Watson – This is Us

22

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Love Life Colin in Black & White Genius: Aretha Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” The Underground Railroad

23

Outstanding New Artist

Cynthia Erivo – Ch. 1 Vs. 1 Jimmie Allen – Bettie James Gold Edition Saweetie – Best Friend feat. Doja Cat Tems – If Orange Was A Place Zoe Wees – Girls Like Us

24

Outstanding Male Artist

Drake – “Way 2 Sexy” Anthony Hamilton – Love Is The New Black Givēon – “Heartbreak Anniversary” J. Cole – The Off-Season Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”

25

Outstanding Female Artist

H.E.R. – Back of My Mind Ari Lennox – “Pressure” Beyoncé – “Be Alive” Chlöe – “Have Mercy” Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales

26

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

“Be Alive” – Beyoncé “Have Mercy” – Chlöe “Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic “Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan “Damage” – H.E.R.

27

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song

“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat “Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe “Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow “My Life (with 21 Savage and Morray)” – J. Cole “Way 2 Sexy” – Drake

28

Outstanding Album

“An Evening with Silk Sonic” – Silk Sonic “Back of My Mind” – H.E.R. “Certified Lover Boy” – Drake “Heaux Tales” – Jazmine Sullivan “When It’s All Said and Done…Take Time” – Givēon