Queen Latifah is called Queen for a reason, as she wowed the crowd at the NAACP Image Awards with four outfit changes and a quick Frank Sinatra cover.
The 52-year-old Chicago actress hosted the big event, making four different outfit changes throughout the night and opening the show with a stunning cover of Sinatra’s I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.
She was also nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in The Equalizer, but lost to Angela Bassett.
The beauty first appeared on stage in a black and cream corset dress and complemented it with satin opera gloves and sparkling jewels.
The “When You’re Good To Mama” singer wore her hair in a slicked-back ponytail and kept her makeup simple.
The Queen: Queen Latifah wowed the crowd at the NAACP Image Awards with four outfit changes
Shining bright: One of her outfits was a bright yellow and orange floor-length dress
Her second outfit of the night was a bright blue and yellow floral dress that was a stark contrast to her first dress.
It had a high neckline, sleeves that reached to the floor, and crystal-embellished flowers.
She went on to wear a stunning maroon dress that included layers upon layers of tulle that started at her shoulders and fell to the floor.
The main part of the dress was slightly sheer lace, showcasing her perfect curves.
The hairspray actress also sported a new hair look after turning her ponytail into an elaborate topknot at the top of her head.
For her final look of the evening, Queen Latifah dominated the stage in an all black look, complete with a matching polyester top and trousers.
She also wore a matching coat that reached to the floor and featured a skirt pattern at the bottom.
The rapper took her hair down, straightened it and parted it completely to one side.
Layers upon layers: The 52-year-old wore a stunning maroon gown that included layer upon layer of tulle
Statement piece: Her final look was an all black look with a matching polyester top and pants
Queen Latifah then presented one of the final awards of the evening, Entertainer of the Year, to Angela Bassett.
As she took the stage to collect her award, the Black Panther actress made a joke about Ariana DeBose’s awkward BAFTA performance.
Viral memes were made of the performance, including ones that said, “Angela Bassett did that thing.”
At the beginning of her speech, Angela looked down at her award and said, “I think Angela Bassett did that thing,” which drew loud applause and laughter from the audience.
The 54th NAACP Image Awards were hosted on Saturday in downtown Los Angeles at Queen Latifah’s LA Live Event Deck.
The event recognizes outstanding performances and achievements by people of color in film, television, music and literature in 2022.
Kicking it out: To open the show, Queen Latifah performed a fast but stunning cover of Frank Sinatra’s I’m Gonna Live Till I Die
Rule the stage: She was also nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in The Equalizer, but lost to Angela Bassett
The hostess with the most: In three of the four outfits she wore, she wore her hair back and away from her face
Everyone smiles: Another hairstyle she sported was an elaborate topknot at the top of her head
The nominations were announced on Thursday, January 12, 2023 and the ceremony will air on BET on Saturday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Beyoncé and Rihanna were among the winners to be recognized in one of the week-long non-televised categories ahead of Saturday’s main ceremony.
Beyoncé won for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for Cuff It, and Outstanding Album for Renaissance. While Rihanna won the Outstanding Video/Visual Album category for Lift Me Up, her film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever won the Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album trophy.
Reginald Hudlin, Giancarlo Esposito, Brittani Nichols and Marissa Jo Cerar were some of the winners announced on Thursday’s fourth night.
Hudlin received the Outstanding Directing in a Documentary Award for his Sidney-Poitier documentary Sidney.
Esposito received a nod for directing a drama series for a Season 6 episode of Better Call Saul, and Angela Barnes won for directing a comedy for Atlanta.
Chatting: The actress kept her makeup very simple
Pure excitement: She had a great moment on stage with Brittney Griner, the WNBA star imprisoned in Russia
Great friends: Queen Latifah posed for a photo with Regina Hall and Quinta Brunson
The night before, Quinta Brunson, Keke Palmer and Nia Long were among those who were nodded.
Brunson won for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (television) for her ABC show Abbott Elementary. Palmer won Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture for her work on Lightyear. Long was recognized for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special for The Best Man: The Final Chapters.
Tonight, The Daily Show won in the Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special) category, while Lizzo’s Big Grrrls won in the Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series category.
Serena Williams is honored with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award and Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade are honored with the President’s Award.
Presenting Duties: The Hairspray actress presented Angela Bassett with one of the big awards of the night
Big moment: The Black Panther actress was named Entertainer of the Year
Her year: She joked onstage about Ariana DeBose’s awkward BAFTA performance
Superstar: Viral memes were made of the performance, including ones saying ‘Angela Bassett did that thing’
Striking a pose: Angela looked down at her award and said, “I think Angela Bassett did that thing,” which drew loud applause and laughter from the audience
Presenters include Zendaya, Taye Diggs, Issa Rae, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jonathan Majors, Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Host Queen Latifah said in a statement, “It is an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year that we celebrate 50 years of hip hop.
“This is a night to celebrate black excellence and the contribution of black people to our industry and beyond. We celebrate each other, lift each other up and you know we’re going to have fun!’
Kyle Bowser, the NAACP’s senior vice president of the Hollywood Bureau, told CNN the goal of the awards show is to “broaden the scope, broaden the lens, if you will, in the critique and evaluation of how excellence.” looks”.
NAACP Image Awards 2023 WINNER
Entertainer of the Year
Angela Bassett – WINNER
Mary J Blige
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
zendaya
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Daniel Kaluuya – No
Jonathan Majors – Devotion
Joshua Boone – The Blues of a Jazzman
Sterling K. Brown – Honk for Jesus. save your soul
Will Smith – Emancipation – WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Aldis Hodge – Black Adam
Cliff Method Man” Smith-On The Come Up
Jalyn Hall—BIS
John Boyega – The Woman King
Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – WINNER
Danai Gurira – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Janelle Monáe – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Lashana Lynch – The Woman King
Lupita Nyong’o – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Loretta Devine – Family reunion
Maya Rudolph – Booty
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary School – WINNER
Tichina Arnold – The Neighborhood
Tracee Ellis Ross – blackish
Outstanding drama series
Bel Air
Bridgeton
euphoria
P Valley
Queen Sugar
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris—Snowfall
Jabari Banks – Bel Air
Kofi Siriboe – Sugar Queen
Nicco Annan – P Valley – WINNER
Sterling K. Brown – This is us
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh-Bridgerton
Bianca Lawson – Sugar Queen
Loretta Devine – P Valley – WINNER
Susan Kelechi Watson – This is us
Tina Lifford – Sugar Queen
Outstanding TV Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons.
Completely new
The Best Man: The Final Chapters – WINNER
The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray
women of the movement
Outstanding Actress in a Movie, Limited Series, or Dramatic Special
Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monsters: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – WINNER
Regina Hall – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Sanaa Lathan – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Viola Davis – The First Lady
Zoe Saldaña – From scratch
Outstanding artist
Beyoncé – Renaissance – WINNER
Ari Lennox – Age/Sex/Location
Chloe Bailey – Surprise
SZA-SOS
Jazmine Sullivan – Hurt Me So Good
Outstanding soul/R&B song
Beyoncé – Cuff It – WINNER
Rihanna – Pick me up
Lizzo – About the damn time
SHE – Good morning Lovely
Mary J. Blige – Good morning, beautiful
Jazmine Sullivan – Hurt Me So Good
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
About The Damned Time – Lizzo (Atlantic Records)
Be Alive – Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment)
Lift Me Up – Rihanna (Def Jam Recordings) – WINNER
Lord Forgive Me feat. Fat, Pharrell and Olu from Earthgang – Tobe Nwigwe (The Good Stewards Collective)
The Heart Part 5 – Kendrick Lamar (pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope Records)
Outstanding Movie
A jazzman’s blues
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – WINNER
emancipation
The Woman King
UNTIL
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Danielle Deadwyler – BIS
Keke Palmer—Alice
Letitia Wright – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Regina Hall – Horn for Jesus. save your soul
Viola Davis – The Woman King – WINNER
Outstanding comedy series
Abbott Elementary School – WINNER
Atlanta
blackish
rap s**t
The Wonderful Years
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – blackish
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood – WINNER
Donald Glover—Atlanta
Dulé Hill – The Miracle Years
Mike Epps – The Upshaws
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Brian Tyree Henry-Atlanta
Deon Cole—blackish
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary School – WINNER
William Stanford Davis – Abbott Elementary School
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary School – WINNER
Jenifer Lewis—blackish
Marsai Martin—blackish
Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary School
Wanda Sykes – The Upshaws
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 – WINNER
Brandee Evans – P Valley
Queen Latifah – The Equalizer
Rutina Wesley – Sugar Queen
Zendaya – euphoria
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – Bel Air
Amin Joseph—Snowfall
Caleb McLaughlin – Stranger Things
Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Mind – WINNER
J. Alphonse Nicholson – P-Valley
Outstanding Actor in a Movie, Limited Series, or Dramatic Special
Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters – WINNER
Samuel L. Jackson – The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray
Terrence Howard – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Trevante Rhodes—Mike
Wendell Pierce – Don’t hang up
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
Glynn Turman – Women of the Movement
Keith David – From Scratch – WINNER
Omar Benson Miller – The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray
Russell Hornsby—Mike
Terrence ‘TC’ Carson – A Wesley Christmas
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special
Alexis Floyd – The invention of Anna
Danielle Deadwyler – From scratch
Melissa De Sousa – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Nia Long – The Best Man: The Final Chapters – WINNER
Phylicia Rashad – Little America
Outstanding album
Renaissance – Beyoncé – WINNER
Mr. Morale & the Great Steppers – Kendrick Lamar
Age/Sex/Location – Ari Lennox
Watch The Sun – PJ Morton
Airy – Chris Brown
Jackie Robinson Sports Awards
Serena Williams – WINNER
Chairman’s Award
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson – WINNER