R&B/soul singers Miguel, Elle Varner and Alicia Keys are among those with leading nominations for the 44th NAACP Image Awards.
Nominations were revealed during a ceremony Tuesday.
Varner and Keys picked up three nominations a piece for their efforts “Perfectly Imperfect” and “Girl On Fire” respectively.
Miguel earned two nominations in the Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Male Artist categories. He shares the latter with Trey Songz, Usher, Lupe Fiasco and Bruno Mars.
Outstanding Female Artist nominees include Alicia Keys, Elle Varner, Estelle, Missy Elliott and Gospel singer/actress Tamela Mann.
Marry Mary and Marvin Sapp lead in the Gospel categories and “Sunday Best” winner Le’Andria Johnson also picked up a nomination.
See the complete list of music nominees below.
The 44th NAACP Image Awards take place Friday, Feb. 1 on NBC.
Outstanding New Artist
Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
Gary Clark, Jr. (Warner Bros. Records)
Lianne La Havas (Nonesuch Records Inc. / Warner Bros. Records)
Melanie Amaro (Epic Records)
The OMG Girlz (Pretty Hustle / Grand Hustle / Streamline / Interscope)
Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
Lupe Fiasco (Atlantic)
Miguel (ByStorm / RCA)
Trey Songz (Atlantic)
Usher (RCA Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
Estelle (Atlantic)
Missy Elliott (Atlantic)
Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Chuck D, Johnny Juice, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock (Iconomy Multi-Media & Entertainment)
fun. feat. Janelle Monae (Atlantic)
Lupe Fiasco feat. Guy Sebastian (Atlantic)
Mary Mary (Columbia)
Ne-Yo, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Rzeznik, Delta Rae, Natasha Bedingfield (Forward Song, LLC)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Bone Appetit [Vol. 1 and 2]” – Jeff Bradshaw (Hidden Beach)
“Dreams” – Brian Culbertson (Verve Records)
“Renaissance” – Marcus Miller (Concord Jazz)
“Seeds From The Underground” – Kenny Garrett (Mack Avenue Records)
“The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection” – The Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Legacy)
Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)
“Best Days” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
“Go Get It” – Mary Mary (Columbia)
“God, Love & Romance” – Fred Hammond (Verity Gospel Music Group)
“I Win” – Marvin Sapp (Verity Gospel Music Group)
“Le’Andria Johnson The Experience” – Le’Andria Johnson (Music World Gospel / Music World)
Outstanding World Music Album
“Ayah Ye! Moving Train” – KG Omulo (KG Omulo)
“Country, God, Or The Girl” – K’NAAN (A&M / Octone Records)
“Diversionary” – Brother B (King Chero Records)
“Wonderful Life” – Estelle (Atlantic)
Outstanding Music Video
“Adorn” – Miguel (ByStorm / RCA)
“Girl On Fire” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
“Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
“This Christmas” – CeeLo Green (Elektra)
“You’re On My Mind” – KEM (Universal Motown)
Outstanding Song
“Be Mine for Christmas” – KEM (Universal Motown)
“Glorify the King” – KEM (Universal Motown)
“I Look To You” – Whitney Houston and R. Kelly (RCA Records)
“Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic)
“You’re On My Mind” – KEM (Universal Motown)
Outstanding Album
“Bad – 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition” – Michael Jackson (Legacy / Epic)
“Girl On Fire” – Alicia Keys (RCA Records)
“I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston” – Whitney Houston (RCA Records)
“On the Shoulders of Giants – The Soundtrack” – Chuck D, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock, Nikki
Yannofsky (Iconomy Multi-Media & Entertainment
“Perfectly Imperfect” – Elle Varner (MBK / RCA)
Miguel and Elle Varner have made their mark on the music industry, and now they’re leading the NAACP Image Award nominations! The two artists have earned seven total nods each for this year’s ceremony, making them top contenders for taking home some of the biggest honors. With Miguel up for Outstanding Male Artist of the Year and Elle in contention for Album of the Year, it looks like both stars are poised to make history at this prestigious event. Read on to learn more about their impressive showings at the 2021 NAACP Image Awards!
The NAACP Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in film, television, literature, music, and activism by people from diverse backgrounds. This year’s nominees have been especially strong with a variety of incredible talent being recognized across all categories. In particular, R&B/soul singers Miguel and Elle Varner stand out as major names to watch during these awards season.
Both musicians have amassed an impressive list of nominations that showcase their range and craftsmanship over recent years. For instance, Miguel is nominated for Outstanding Male Artist along with his singles “Funeral” and “Cadillac,” while Elle has picked up nods in categories such as Album of the Year and Music Video/Visual Album of the Year thanks to her critically acclaimed effort Ella Mai. As we look forward to seeing which artist will take home the most trophies come March 27th, one thing is certain: no matter who wins or loses – Miguel and Elle Varner will be remembered as major players at this year’s NAACP Image Awards!
Overview Of Naacp Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards were established in 1967 to honor outstanding people of color in the entertainment industry. The awards recognize individuals for their achievements and contributions to African-American culture, as well as those who embody the organization’s mission of advancing civil rights through advocacy and education. This year’s nominees are no exception – they include some of the biggest names in music, television, film, theater, literature, and activism.
Leading this year’s nominations is R&B singer Miguel with nine total nods across various categories including Outstanding Album (Wildheart), Outstanding Male Artist, and Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album (for his song “Coffee”). He is followed closely by two-time winner Elle Varner with seven nominations across multiple genres such as New Artist of the Year and Outstanding Female Artist.
Other notable contenders this year include Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for her work on Lemonade; Donald Glover’s series Atlanta has earned him five individual nods; Ava DuVernay was recognized for her documentary 13th; and Chance The Rapper received four nominations spanning Hip Hop/Rap Song Of The Year and Best Gospel Performance/Song. It promises to be an exciting night full of celebration when the winners are announced later this month!
Notable Nominees
This year’s nominees are a diverse and talented group of individuals. From Miguel to Elle Varner, all the way to Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Donald Glover, Ava DuVernay, and Chance The Rapper – these names represent some of the best in their respective fields. It’s no wonder that they have been nominated for awards across various categories at this year’s NAACP Image Awards ceremony.
Miguel is leading the pack with nine nominations overall. His work on Wildheart earned him nods in Outstanding Album and Outstanding Male Artist, while his music video “Coffee” was also recognized as Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album. Meanwhile, Elle Varner has been honored with seven individual nominations spanning multiple genres including New Artist of the Year and Outstanding Female Artist.
The other contenders this year include Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for her album Lemonade; Donald Glover’s series Atlanta earning him five individual nods; Ava DuVernay receiving recognition for 13th; and Chance The Rapper who received four nods from Hip Hop/Rap Song Of The Year to Best Gospel Performance/Song. As we look forward to seeing who will be taking home an award later this month, one thing is certain: there are many outstanding accomplishments being celebrated this year!
Conclusion
The NAACP Image Awards are a great way to recognize people of color for their contributions to the entertainment industry. Every year, talented individuals like Miguel and Elle Varner are nominated for awards; they have earned recognition due to their hard work and dedication in both music and film respectively.
This year’s nominees reflect the amazing diversity within the African American community. From actors, singers, producers, directors, writers and more – each person is deserving of an award. We should celebrate them all for being successful in their own right.
I am honored that I get to witness such talent firsthand throughout my career. The 2020 NAACP Image Award nominations prove that progress has been made in representation on-screen and off-screen over the years – something we should all be proud of.