With three wins already under his belt, singer Bruno Mars will compete Monday evening for the top honor of entertainer of the year during the 49th annual NAACP Image Awards.
Mars was among the top overall nominees for the awards with four nods, and during a pre-telecast ceremony Sunday night in Pasadena, he emerged victorious in three of those categories — outstanding male artist and outstanding traditional song and music video for his hit “That’s What I Like.”
He will look to make it a clean sweep during Monday evening’s televised portion of the awards when he bids for the entertainer of the year prize against Jay-Z, Issa Rae, Ava DuVernay, Chadwick Boseman and Chance the Rapper.
Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z were the leading nominees with five each. During Sunday’s ceremony, however, Blige won just once, for outstanding female artist. Jay-Z went home empty-handed Sunday, although he is still nominated in two categories that will be decided Monday night: outstanding contemporary song for “The Story of O.J.” and for entertainer of the year.
All of Blige’s nominations were in the music categories. She was not nominated for her critically acclaimed performance in the film “Mudbound.”‘ The film’s only nomination was for best independent motion picture, a prize that went to “Detroit.”
Jordan Peele was a double-winner Sunday, scoring victories for writing and directing his hit film “Get Out.” Idris Elba collected two prizes for supporting actor in “Thor: Ragnarok” and for best actor in a TV movie or limited series for Showtime’s “Guerrilla.”
Actress Tiffany Haddish also won twice, as best supporting actress in “Girls Trip” and best animation voice-over performance for Comedy Central’s “Legends of Chamberlain Heights.”
The Image Awards celebrate “the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.”
Anthony Anderson will host the Monday night ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. He is also a nominee for leading actor in a comedy series for his work on “black-ish.”‘ He’ll be competing with Aziz Ansari for “Master of None,”‘ Dwayne Johnson for “Ballers,”‘ Keegan-Michael Key for “Friends from College”‘ and RonReaco Lee for “Survivor’s Remorse.”
Issa Rae is nominated for outstanding comedy actress for “Insecure,”‘ as are Danielle Brooks for “Orange is the New Black,”‘ Loretta DeVine for “The Carmichael Show,”‘ Niecy Nash for “Claws”‘ and Anderson’s “black-ish”‘ co-star, Tracee Ellis Ross.
“Black-ish”‘ is up for best comedy series, as are “Ballers,”‘ “Dear White People,”‘ “Insecure”‘ and “Survivor’s Remorse.”‘ For best drama, nominees are “Greenleaf,”‘ “Power,”‘ “Queen Sugar,”‘ “This is Us”‘ and “Underground.”
On the big screen, nominated for best motion picture are “Detroit,”‘ “Get Out,”‘ “Girls Trip,”‘ “Marshall”‘ and “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”
Here is a complete list of early winners and remaining nominees:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
— Ava DuVernay
— Bruno Mars
— Chadwick Boseman
— Chance the Rapper
— Issa Rae
— Jay-Z
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
— “Ballers” (HBO)
— “black-ish” (ABC)
— “Dear White People” (Netflix)
— “Insecure” (HBO)
— “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
— Anthony Anderson, “black-ish” (ABC)
— Aziz Ansari, “Master of None” (Netflix)
— Dwayne Johnson, “Ballers” (HBO)
— Keegan-Michael Key, “Friends from College” (Netflix)
— RonReaco Lee, “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
— Danielle Brooks, “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
— Issa Rae, “Insecure” (HBO)
— Loretta Devine, “The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
— Niecy Nash, “Claws” (TNT)
— Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish ” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
— Jay Ellis, “Insecure” (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
— Marsai Martin, “black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
— “Greenleaf” (OWN)
— “Power” (Starz)
— “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
— “This Is Us” (NBC)
— “Underground” (WGN America)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
— Kofi Siriboe, “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
— Mike Colter, “Marvel’s The Defenders” (Netflix)
— Omari Hardwick, “Power” (Starz)
— Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us ” (NBC)
— Terrence Howard, “Empire” (FOX)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
— Jurnee Smollett-Bell, “Underground” (WGN America)
— Kerry Washington, “Scandal” (ABC)
— Rutina Wesley, “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
— Taraji P. Henson, “Empire” (FOX)
— Viola Davis, “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
— Joe Morton, “Scandal” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
— Naturi Naughton, “Power” (Starz)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited – Series or Dramatic Special
— “The New Edition Story” (BET)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
— Idris Elba, “Guerrilla” (Showtime)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
— Queen Latifah, “Flint” (Lifetime)
Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special)
— “Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
— “The Real” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
— “The Manns” (TV One)
Outstanding Variety or Game Show – (Series or Special)
— “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike)
Outstanding Children’s Program
— “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)
— Caleb McLaughlin, “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
— Roland Martin, “News One Now” (TV One)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
— LL Cool J, “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike)
RECORDING
Outstanding New Artist
— SZA, “Ctrl” (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
Outstanding Male Artist
— Bruno Mars, “Versace On the Floor” (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Female Artist
— Mary J. Blige, “Strength of a Woman” (Capitol Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
— Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna, “LOYALTY.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Outstanding Jazz Album
— “Petite Afrique” – Somi (Sony Music/OKeh)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album (Traditional or Contemporary)
— “Greenleaf Soundtrack Volume 2” – Greenleaf Soundtrack (RCA Inspiration)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
— “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
— “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
— “Gonna Be Alright” – Mali Music (RCA Records/ByStorm Entertainment)
— “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
— “Insecure” – Jazmine Sullivan X Bryson Tiller (RCA Records)
— “Love Galore” – SZA feat. Travis Scott (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
— “The Story of O.J.” – Jay-Z (Roc Nation)
Outstanding Album
— “DAMN.” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
LITERATURE
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
— “The Annotated African American Folktales” – Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Author), Maria Tatar (Author) (Liveright Publishing Corporation)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
— “Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies” – Dick Gregory (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
— “No One Is Coming to Save Us” – Stephanie Powell Watts (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography / Auto Biography
— “Becoming Ms. Burton – From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women” – Susan Burton (Author), Cari Lynn (Author), Michelle Alexander (Foreword By) (The New Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
— “The Awakened Woman: Remembering & Reigniting Our Sacred Dreams” – Dr. Tererai Trent (Author), Oprah Winfrey (Foreword By) (Simon and Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
— “Incendiary Art: Poems” – Patricia Smith (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
— “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” – Vashti Harrison (Hachette Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth / Teens
— “Clayton Byrd Goes Underground” – Rita Williams-Garcia (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator) (Amistad/HarperCollins Publishers)
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Motion Picture
— “Detroit” (Annapurna Pictures)
— “Get Out” (Universal Pictures)
— “Girls Trip” (Universal Pictures)
— “Marshall” (Open Road Films)
— “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
— Algee Smith, “Detroit” (Annapurna Pictures)
— Chadwick Boseman, “Marshall” (Open Road Films)
— Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out” (Universal Pictures)
— Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” (Columbia Pictures)
— Idris Elba, “The Mountain Between Us” (20th Century Fox)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
— Amandla Stenberg, “Everything, Everything” (Warner Bros. Pictures / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
— Danai Gurira, “All Eyez on Me” (Summit Entertainment)
— Halle Berry, “Kidnap” (Aviron Pictures)
— Natalie Paul, “Crown Heights” (Amazon Studios)
— Octavia Spencer, “Gifted” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
— Idris Elba, “THOR: Ragnarok” (Marvel Studios)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
— Tiffany Haddish, “Girls Trip” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
— “Detroit” (Annapurna Pictures)
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
— “STEP” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
— “The 44th President: In His Own Words” (History)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
— Janine Barrois – “Claws”‘ – Batsh*t (TNT)
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
— Gina Prince-Bythewood, “Shots Fired” – Hour One: Pilot (FOX)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
— Abdul Williams, “The New Edition Story” – Night Two (BET)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
— Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (Universal Pictures)
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
— Anton Cropper, “black-ish” – Juneteenth (ABC)
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
— Carl Franklin, “13 Reasons Why” – Tape 5, Side B (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
— Allen Hughes, “The Defiant Ones” (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
— Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (Universal Pictures)
ANIMATED/CGI
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
— Tiffany Haddish, “Legends of Chamberlain Heights” (Comedy Central)
–City News Service