Before Saturday’s live broadcast even begins, the 57th NAACP Image Awards have already handed out a significant number of trophies across its virtual pre-show nights — spotlighting excellence in literature, music, podcasting, film scoring, and digital content.
Early winners include Michelle Obama, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Will Packer, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Don Lemon, Angie Thomas, Nnedi Okorafor, and more. With over 90 categories total, the Image Awards continue to highlight the full spectrum of Black achievement across industries.
The virtual pre-shows continue before the main 57th NAACP Image Awards ceremony airs live Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, hosted by Deon Cole.
Special honorees this year include:
- Viola Davis (Chairman’s Award)
- Colman Domingo (President’s Award)
- Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella (Hall of Fame)
With ‘Sinners’ leading film nominations and artists like Lamar and Cardi already stacking wins, Saturday’s ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent years.
Below is the complete list of winners announced during Night 1 and Night 2 of the virtual pre-show.
Night 2 Winners
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Outstanding New Artist
Monaleo – “Who Did the Body?”
Outstanding Female Artist
Cardi B
Outstanding Male Artist
Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song
“ErrTime” – Cardi B
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Sinners
Outstanding International Song
“Is It” – Tyla
Outstanding Jazz Album
“We Insist! 2025” – Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Do It Again” – Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Tasha” – Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
803Fresh feat. Fantasia – “Boots on the Ground Remix”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher – “It Depends (Remix)”
Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
“Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)” – Sinners
Outstanding Album
“Am I The Drama?” – Cardi B
Outstanding Podcast – Scripted/Limited Series/Short Form
“Interesting Things with JC”
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information
“The Don Lemon Show” – Don Lemon
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” – Michelle Obama
Outstanding Podcast – Arts, Sports and Entertainment
“IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” – Michelle Obama
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture
“The Don Lemon Show” – Don Lemon
Night 1 Winners
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“The Look” – Michelle Obama
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics” – Juanita Tolliver
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Who Better Than You?” – Will Packer
Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism
“On Borrowed Time” – Anissa Durham
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Charles B. Fancher – “Red Clay”
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Death of the Author” – Nnedi Okorafor
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems” – Patricia Smith
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark” – Allen R. Wells; Illustrated by DeAndra Hodge
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi” – Angie Thomas
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
“Parable of the Talents: A Graphic Novel Adaptation” – Octavia E. Butler (adapted by Damien Duffy; illustrated by John Jennings & David Brame)
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
“The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar” – Kendrick Lamar
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech
Berlin Edmond Jr. (@Berleezy)
Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food
Keith Lee (@keith_lee125)
The remaining winners will be revealed during the live ceremony on February 28 on BET and CBS. With ‘Sinners’ leading all nominations and Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B and Michelle Obama already stacking wins, the main stage is set for a major night.