The nominations for the 2022 NAACP Image Awards were announced on Tuesday (Jan. 18), and H.E.R. is leading the pack. The “Best Part” singer is nominated in six categories, including Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Soul/R&B song for her single “Damage.” Drake, Silk Sonic, Jazmine Sullivan and Chloe are tied for the second-most nominations earning four nods apiece.
Also up in the music categories are Anthony Hamilton, J. Cole, Lil Nas X and Givēon — Drake’s competition for Outstanding Male Artist. Ari Lennox snagged a nod in the category for Outstanding Female Artist, and Wiz and Tems’ summer anthem “Essence” is nominated for Outstanding International Song.
In the motion pictures, television and streaming categories, Netflix scored the most nods with films like The Harder They Fall and Halle Berry’s Bruised earning a slew of nominations. Issa Rae’s “Insecure,” which recently came to a close after six successful seasons, was recognized 12 times. After the NAACP Image Award nominees were announced, Yvonne Orji, who plays lead character Molly in the HBO series, took to Instagram to celebrate the nods.
“I meeeeeeeeaaaaaannnnnnn. When the WHOLE SQUAD poppin!! Shout out to the entire @insecurehbo fam on a season well done and the @naacpimageawards for all the recognitions,” she wrote. “Congrats to all the image awards nominees in all categories!!
#WeOutchyea!!!”
Mary J. Blige, Taraji P. Henson, La La Anthony and more also hopped on social media after learning they were being considered for an NAACP Image Award.
The annual award show will air on Feb. 26 at 8 pm ET. Anthony Anderson will host a virtual iteration of the show given the Omicron variant cases.
See reactions to the nominations below.