The NAACP Image Awards show is an essential night of Black excellence, initially debuting in 1967 to “honor outstanding film, television, music, and literature performances” within our community. Both joyous and sentimental, it is a ceremony that spotlights the prestige of Black talents too often neglected by predominantly white award shows (i.e. Beyoncé winning her first and only AOTY Grammy award in the year 2025 and Angela Bassett receiving an overdue honorary Oscar in the year 2024). For the 56th annual rendition—taking place Saturday, February 22 at 5:00 p.m. PST/8:00 p.m. EST at the Pasadena Civic Center and airing on BET and CBS—Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, and Shannon Sharpe are nominated for the highly anticipated Entertainer Of The Year award. However, many stars like Beyoncé, her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Ayo Edibiri, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and more took home trophies at the virtual ceremonies streamed on YouTube and hosted by Angel Laketa Moore and Marcus Tanksley earlier this week.
