2025 NAACP Image Awards Winners List: Doechii, Jamie Foxx, Ayo Edebiri, And More
The 2025 NAACP Image Awards is a week-long celebration of Black excellence.
Some of the winners of the coveted recognition have already been announced while the final few will be revealed during the live show on Saturday (Feb. 22) on BET and CBS.
Among them are Blue Ivy Carter, Marlon Wayans, Keke Palmer, Dawn Porter, Jamie Foxx, Doechii, Beyoncé, and Kendrick Lamar. This year’s honorees include former Vice President Kamala Harris (Chairman’s Award), Dave Chappelle (President’s Award), BET Media Group (Founders Award) and The Wayans Family, who will be inducted into NAACP Hall of Fame.
“The NAACP Image Awards have long been a beacon of Black excellence, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and power of our storytellers, activists, and changemakers,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of NAACP, in a statement. “This year, as we extend our celebration across a full week of events, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying voices that shape culture and drive progress. From the critical conversations to the post-show benefit supporting Black communities, this week is more than a celebration—it’s a testament to the impact and influence of Black artistry and advocacy. We are proud to stand alongside our partners and supporters in honoring those who continue to inspire, uplift, and move us forward.”
At the live ceremony— hosted by Deon Cole— awards will be presented by Aldis Hodge, Edwin Hodge, Chlöe, Clifton Davis, Karla Mosley, Danielle Deadwyler, David Alan Grier, Don Cheadle, Ego Nwodim, Gabrielle Union, George Wallace, Harold Perrineau, Janelle James, Jay Ellis, Jurnee Smollett, Keke Palmer, Laverne Cox, LL COOL J, Morris Chestnut, Shannon Sharpe, and Taraji P. Henson.
Ledisi is set to perform with the Adam Blackstone Band and D-Nice will lead a special tribute to the late Quincy Jones.
The 2025 NAACP Image Awards premieres live on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET, CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, Pop, TV Land, Logo, Comedy Central, and Smithsonian.
The full list of winners can be found below. This list will be updated as winners are revealed.
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Gracie’s Corner” – YouTube TV
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympics” (Disney+)
Outstanding Animated Series
“Gracie’s Corner” – YouTube TV
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Cree Summer – “Rugrats” (Nickelodeon)
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“One of Us Knows: A Thriller” – Alyssa Cole (William Morrow – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest” – Fawn Weaver (Melcher Media Inc.)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
Sarai Johnson – “Grown Women” (Harper – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America” – Joy-Ann Reid (Mariner Books – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair” – Tomesha Faxio (Clarkson Potter – Crown Publishing Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets” – Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown and Company – Hachette Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book” – Taraji P. Henson, Paul Kellam (Zonderkidz – HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York” – Samarra St. Hilaire (Self-Published)
Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel
“Punk Rock Karaoke” – Bianca Xunise
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was” (Netflix)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Marlon Wayans – “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Crystal Jenkins – “No Good Deed – Letters of Intent” Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Ben Watkins – Cross “Hero Complex” (Prime Video)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks – “Young. Wild. Free.” (BET+)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)
Taraji P. Henson – “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)
Samuel L. Jackson – “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Tina Mabry – “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Tiffany Johnson – “How to Die Alone – ‘Trust No One’” (Hulu)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Rapman – “Supacell – ‘Supacell’” (Netflix)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
“The Reidout” – MSNBC
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Keke Palmer – “Password” (NBC)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Services/Game Show
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Outstanding ShortForm Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary
“The Prince of Death Row Records” (YouTube TV)
Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
“How to Sue the Klan”
Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
“Superman Doesn’t Steal”
Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
“Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” (Exhibit Treal Studios)
Outstanding New Artist
Doechii – (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
Outstanding Male Artist
Chris Brown – (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Outstanding Female Artist
Beyoncé – (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
Outstanding International Song
“Hmmm” – Chris Brown feat. Davido (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“Portrait” – Samara Joy (Verve Records)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“Working For Me” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“Live Breathe Fight” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Adam Blackstone & Fantasia – “Summertime” (BASSic Black Entertainment Records/Anderson Music Group/EMPIRE)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece of My Heart” (RCA Records/Sony Music International/Starboy Entertainment)
Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film
“Star Wars: The Acolyte (Original Soundtrack)” – (Walt Disney Records)
Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap Song
“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
Outstanding Album
“Cowboy Carter” – Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)
Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form
“Stranded” – (Broadway Video and Audible)
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information
“Native Land Pod” – (iHeartPodcasts, Reasoned Choice Media)
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-Help
“We Don’t Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling” – (ABF Creative & Indian Meadows Production)
Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Motion Picture)
“Wicked” – Paul Tazewell (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Hair Styling (Television or Motion Picture)
“Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” – Lawrence Davis (Peacock)
Outstanding Make-up (Television or Motion Picture)
“Shirley” – Debi Young (Netflix)
Outstanding Stunt Ensemble
“Rebel Ridge” – Keith Woulard, Nico Woulard (Netflix)
Outstanding International Motion Picture
“Emilia Pérez” – (Netflix)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)
Blue Ivy Carter – “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Dawn Porter – “Luther: Never Too Much” (Sony Music Entertainment/Sony Music Publishing/CNN Films)
Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
Jomo Fray – “Nickel Boys” (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
Malcolm Washington – “The Piano Lesson” (Netflix)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Ebony Obsidian – “The Six Triple Eight” (Netflix)
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
“The Six Triple Eight” – (Netflix)
