Michelle Obama, Kendrick Lamar among first NAACP Image Awards winners
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The first winners of the 57th NAACP Image Awards have officially been unveiled, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be a celebratory week honoring Black excellence.
The three-night virtual ceremony began on February 23, recognizing standout achievements across literature, digital content, and entertainment.
Among the most prominent early winners were former first lady Michelle Obama and rapper Kendrick Lamar, whose projects earned top honors on opening night.
Michelle Obama wins for ‘The Look’ autobiography
Michelle Obama secured a major literary win, taking home the award for Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography for her book 'The Look.'
The photograph-rich autobiography focuses on the former first lady’s fashion and personal style, offering readers a visual and narrative journey through some of her most memorable public moments.
Her win marked one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony’s opening night, underscoring her continued cultural influence well beyond her years in the White House.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show also honored
Kendrick Lamar’s high-profile performance project also earned recognition during the first wave of awards.
“The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar” won Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary, adding another accolade to the Grammy-winning artist’s resume.
The honor highlights the continued impact of Lamar’s creative work across both music and visual storytelling formats.
Authors and digital creators win early honors
Several other notable names were celebrated as part of the first night’s announcements.
Political commentator Juanita Tolliver won Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction for her book 'A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm & Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics.' Content creator Berlin Edmond Jr, widely known online as Berleezy, picked up Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Gaming/Tech.
Meanwhile, social media food critic Keith Lee won Outstanding Digital Content Creator – Fitness/Wellness/Food, continuing his strong run of mainstream recognition.
The three-night ceremony is being hosted by Angel “ThatChickAngel” Laketa Moore and Khleo Thomas, who are guiding viewers through the virtual celebration of achievements across multiple fields.
The NAACP Image Awards virtual presentations will continue on Tuesday, February 24, and Wednesday, February 25, on the organization’s YouTube channel, with more winners expected to be announced across additional categories.
The celebration will culminate with the 57th NAACP Image Awards live broadcast scheduled for Saturday, February 28, at 8 PM ET/PT. The televised ceremony will air on BET and CBS.
