Snubs & Surprises at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards

Snub: Kendrick Lamar

Lamar lost outstanding male artist (which he has yet to win) to Chris Brown (who won it for the third time). In addition, Lamar’s Billboard 200-topping Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers lost outstanding album to Renaissance; “Die Hard” (featuring Blxt & Amanda Reifer) lost outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional) to Silk Sonic’s “Love’s Train”; and “The Heart Part 5” lost twice. It lost outstanding hip hop/rap song to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and outstanding music video/visual album to Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.”

Surprise: Will Smith

It both is and isn’t a surprise that Smith won outstanding actor in a motion picture for Emancipation. This was his first nomination here since The Slap on last year’s Oscar telecast, which tarnished his image and imperiled his career. Smith also won here last year for King Richard, the role that brought him his first Oscar. Smith is the first actor to win back-to-back Image Awards in this category since Denzel Washington scored in 2002-03 with Training Day and John Q, respectively. Smith wasn’t on hand to receive his award. Instead, presenter Janelle Monáe simply accepted it on his behalf.  

Snub: Samara Joy

Joy won two Grammys on Feb. 5 – best new artist and best jazz vocal album for Linger Awhile. So you might think she’d be a shoo-in to win here for outstanding jazz album – vocal. Nope. The award went to Adam Blackstone’s Legacy. Blackstone is also coming off a major award win. He won his first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding music direction for The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent.

Surprise: Coco Jones

Jones took outstanding new (recording) artist for “ICU” over Steve Lacy for Gemini Rights, among others. Lacy’s album won a Grammy for best progressive R&B album and spawned the smash “Bad Habit,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.

Snub: Future’s “Wait for U”

The hit by Future featuring Drake and Tems topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for best melodic rap performance. But it came up short in both categories in which it was nominated here. It lost outstanding hip hop/rap song to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and outstanding duo group or collaboration (contemporary) to Chris Brown featuring Wizkid’s “Call Me Every Day.”

Surprise: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Prince-Bythewood won outstanding directing in a motion picture for The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing). She beat Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, among others. This is Prince-Bythewood’s record-setting third win in the category, following The Secret Life of Bees (2009) and The Old Guard (2021). Coogler has won twice in the category for Creed (2016) and Black Panther (2019). Coogler won two awards on the night – outstanding writing in a motion picture and outstanding soundtrack/compilation album, both for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Snub: Jerrod Carmichael

Jerrod Carmichael won his first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding writing for a variety special for his HBO Max special, Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, but he lost in the equivalent category (outstanding writing in a television movie or special) here. The winner? Netflix’s Entergalactic, with a story by Scott Mescudi (better known as Kid Cudi) and written by Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams.

Surprise: Keke Palmer

Palmer won outstanding character voice-over performance – motion picture. She beat out a pair of past Oscar nominees – Angela Bassett (nominated for Wendell & Wild) and Taraji P. Henson (nominated for Minions: The Rise of Gru).

Snub: Sheryl Lee Ralph

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Ralph won her first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in Abbott Elementary, but lost here to her castmate Janelle James. Both were vying here for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. The two actresses presented the first award on the telecast. Ralph warmly congratulated James on her win the previous night.

Surprise: Tabitha Brown

The host of Tab Time on You Tube Originals won outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble. (That category name is longer than the show!) Her win was sweet because she was up against four major names – Lizzo for Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Trevor Noah for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Taraji P. Henson for hosting the 2022 BET Awards and Keke Palmer for NBC’s revival of Password. Tab Time also won outstanding children’s program.

Snub: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’

Guillermo del Toro’s film is the front-runner to win the Oscar for best animated feature film, but it lost outstanding animated motion picture here to Wendell & Wild. The latter film wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar.

Surprise: Nicco Annan

The star of Starz’ P-Valley won outstanding actor in a drama [TV] series, beating, among others, Sterling K. Brown of NBC’s just-wrapped This Is Us (who won in this category twice). Annan stars as Uncle Clifford Sayles, the non-binaryowner and proprietor of a strip club called The Pynk in the fictional city of Chucalissa, Miss. P-Valley also won outstanding drama series.

Not a Surprise: Michelle Obama

Image Award voters seem to prefer the real Michelle Obama to a dramatized version. ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, a Conversation with Robin Roberts won outstanding news/information (series or special). But Viola Davis’ portrayal of the former first lady on The First Lady (Showtime) lost in the category of outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special. (The winner there was Niecy Nash-Betts, playing the suspicious neighbor on Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.)

Not a Surprise, but Really?: Jennifer Hudson

Hudson took outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble for the first season of her syndicated The Jennifer Hudson Show. That’s not a surprise. Hudson is an EGOT, after all. Her competition included Lester Holt for NBC Nightly News. These shows – a resolutely positive daytime talk show and an evening news broadcast – should not be in the same category. It’s not really fair to either.