57th NAACP Image Awards: Winners From Nights 1–4 of Virtual Pre-Shows Announced Ahead of Saturday’s Live Ceremony
Before Saturday’s live broadcast even begins, the 57th NAACP Image Awards have already handed out dozens of trophies across four nights of virtual pre-show ceremonies and Creative Honors events, celebrating excellence across film, television, music, literature, podcasts, digital media, and more.
One of the most emotional moments of this year’s pre-ceremony celebrations came during Night 3, when Malcolm-Jamal Warner earned a posthumous NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Guest Performance for his role in Fox’s Murder in a Small Town. Warner, who passed away in July at age 54 following an accidental drowning, portrayed Richard Bannister in the Season 2 episode “Mother Love.” The honor marks his second NAACP Image Award win across six career nominations and serves as a powerful tribute to his lasting impact on television and culture.
Across the first four nights, winners have included Michelle Obama, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Will Packer, Teyana Taylor, Reasonable Doubt, and a wide range of creatives shaping culture both on and off screen.
With more than 90 categories presented annually, the NAACP Image Awards continue to spotlight the full spectrum of Black achievement across entertainment, media, and storytelling industries.
The virtual ceremonies began with literary, podcast, and music categories earlier in the week before expanding into television, film, and Creative Honors awards during Nights 3 and 4.
The 57th NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Deon Cole, will air live Saturday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Special Honorees This Year Include:
- Viola Davis — Chairman’s Award
- Colman Domingo — President’s Award
- Salt-N-Pepa & DJ Spinderella — Hall of Fame Inductees
Below is the complete list of winners announced during Nights 1–4 of the virtual pre-shows and Creative Honors ceremonies.
Creative Honors & Night 4 Winners
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
“Zootopia 2”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Abbott Elementary”
Outstanding Drama Series
“Reasonable Doubt”
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Aisha Hinds, 9-1-1
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Caleb McLaughlin, Stranger Things
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Outstanding Limited Television Series, Special or Movie
“Straw”
Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television Series, Special or Movie
Taraji P. Henson, Straw
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
“Number One on the Call Sheet”
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary
Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch, Number One on the Call Sheet
Outstanding Talk Series
“The Jennifer Hudson Show”
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information Program
Don Lemon, The Don Lemon Show
Outstanding News/Information Program
“The Don Lemon Show”
Outstanding Digital Content Creator, Art/Comedy
Tee Sanders
Outstanding Digital Content Creator, Political/Culture
Lynae Vanee
Night 3 Winner
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Animated Series
“Gracie’s Corner” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Kyla Pratt, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)
Quinta Brunson, Zootopia 2
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (Television or Motion Picture)
“Sinners,” Andy Gill
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Love, Brooklyn”
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“Souleymane’s Story”
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
“Being Eddie”
Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Outstanding Editing in a Motion Picture or Television Series, Movie, or Special
Deanna Nowell, Ironheart
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“Sinners”
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Ali Siddiq: My Two Sons”
Outstanding Guest Performance
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Murder in a Small Town
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Aisha Muharrar, Hacks
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Cynthia Adarkwa, The Pitt
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Aireka Muse, Friends & Lovers
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Mario Van Peebles, Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Olatunde Osunsanmi, Star Trek: Section 31
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
Teyana Taylor, Straw
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman, Straw
Outstanding Host in a Reality, Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety Program
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show
“Celebrity Family Feud”
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.