The 'Truth Hurts' hitmaker scores the top honor while Beyonce Knowles takes home multiple awards, one of which she shares with her daughter, at the annual 51st NAACP Image Awards.
- Feb 24, 2020
AceShowbiz - Lizzo, "Just Mercy", and "Black-ish" were the big winners at the 51st NAACP Image Awards in Hollywood on Saturday night, February 22, 2020.
The "Truth Hurts" hitmaker beat out Billy Porter, Angela Bassett, Regina King, and Tyler Perry to be named Entertainer of the Year at the ceremony, which recognises entertainers of colour.
"We are such a beautiful people, this is just a reminder of all the beautiful things that we can do," said Lizzo as she accepted the night's final and biggest award, leaping and dancing off the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Meanwhile, "Just Mercy" took home three prizes, including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Best Supporting Actor for Jamie Foxx.
Jordan played a crusading defence attorney in the film, with Foxx starring as the wrongly convicted man he fought for.
"This project is a lot bigger than me. It's about every person that's wrongfully convicted and sitting in a jail cell right now," Jordan said as he accepted the award for the movie, which is based on real-life events.
Foxx, who won his fifth overall Image Award for his performance, added, "Thank you so much, black people, African-Americans, and everything else we are."
"It's always great to get it from black folks because we are so talented."
Lupita Nyong'o won Best Actress in a film for her role in "Us", and 15-year Marsai Martin received Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Little", beating out names including Jennifer Lopez, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer.
It was a big night for "Black-ish", with the hit show taking home Outstanding Comedy Series, and sweeping all of the acting categories for comedy series.
Last year's Entertainer of the Year winner Beyonce Knowles also took home a handful of prizes, including Outstanding Female Artist, along with several nods for her album "The Lion King: The Gift". Her daughter, Blue Ivy, was also recognised for the collaboration "Brown Skin Girl".
And Rihanna took home the NAACP President's Award for special achievement and distinguished public service, and she called for racial, religious and cultural unity during her acceptance speech.
"If there's anything that I've learned, it's that we can only fix this world together," Rihanna said. "We can't do it divided. Tell your friends to pull up."
"We've been denied opportunities since the beginning of time, and still we prevail… Imagine what we can do if we do it together," she added.
Anthony Anderson hosted the 2020 ceremony.
The full list of winners is as follows:
- Outstanding Comedy Series: "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: Anthony Anderson - "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: Tracee Ellis Ross - "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Deon Cole - "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Marsai Martin - "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Drama Series: "Greenleaf"
- Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series: Omari Hardwick - "Power"
- Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: Angela Bassett - "9-1-1"
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Harold Perrineau - "Claws"
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Lynn Whitfield - "Greenleaf"
- Outstanding Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: "When They See Us"
- Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: Jharrel Jerome - "When They See Us"
- Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: Niecy Nash - "When They See Us"
- Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special): "Unsung"
- Outstanding Talk Series: "Red Table Talk"
- Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show: "Rhythm + Flow"
- Outstanding Variety (Series or Special): "Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce Knowles"
- Outstanding Children's Program: "Family Reunion"
- Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series): Marsai Martin - "Black-ish"
- Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble: Jada Pinkett Smith - "Red Table Talk"
- Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble: Steve Harvey - "Celebrity Family Feud"
- Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series: Kelly Rowland - "American Soul"
- Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special): "Hitsville: The Making of Motown"
- Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: "The Good Place"
- Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: "Truth Be Told"
- Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: "GLOW"
- Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: "Power"
- Entertainer of the Year: Lizzo
- Outstanding Motion Picture: "Just Mercy"
- Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Michael B. Jordan - "Just Mercy"
- Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Lupita Nyong'o - "Us"
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Jamie Foxx - "Just Mercy"
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Marsai Martin - "Little"
- Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture: Marsai Martin - "Little"
- Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture: "Just Mercy"
- Outstanding Independent Motion Picture: "Dolemite Is My Name"
- Outstanding Album: "Homecoming: The Live Album" - Beyonce Knowles
- Outstanding New Artist: Lil Nas X
- Outstanding Male Artist: Bruno Mars
- Outstanding Female Artist: Beyonce Knowles
- Outstanding Song - Traditional: "SPIRIT" - Beyonce Knowles
- Outstanding Song - Contemporary: "Before I Let Go" - Beyonce Knowles
- Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration: "Brown Skin Girl" - Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyonce Knowles & WizKiD
- Outstanding Jazz Album: "Love & Liberation" - Jazzmeia Horn
- Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary): "Love Theory" - Kirk Franklin
- Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album: "Juice" - Lizzo
- Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album: "The Lion King: The Gift" - Beyonce Knowles with various artists
