The 51st NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2019 calendar year. The ceremony took place on February 22, 2020, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium^[1] and was broadcast for the first time on BET - as well as simulcast on several of its sister ViacomCBS networks, moving to the former after broadcasts on TV One in previous years.^[2]

During the ceremony Rihanna was awarded with the President's Award for "her fundraising efforts with various charities, disaster relief and education abroad—efforts",^[3] and John Lewis was awarded with the Chairman's Award "in recognition of his lifelong dedication of protecting human rights and securing civil liberties".

All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in bold.^[4]

Special Awards

Motion Picture

Television

Recording

Outstanding New Artist

• Lil Nas X
  • Ari Lennox
  • Lucky Daye
  • Mahalia
  • Mykal Kilgore

Outstanding Male Artist

• Bruno Mars
  • Khalid
  • Lil Nas X
  • MAJOR.
  • PJ Morton

Outstanding Female Artist

• Beyoncé
  • Fantasia
  • H.E.R.
  • India.Arie
  • Lizzo

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

• Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn, Beyoncé & Wizkid – "Brown Skin Girl"
  • Chris Brown feat. Drake – "No Guidance"
  • PJ Morton feat. JoJo – "Say So"
  • Ari Lennox & J. Cole – "Shea Butter Baby"
  • Alicia Keys & Miguel – "Show Me Love"

Outstanding Jazz Album

• Jazzmeia Horn – Love & Liberation"
  • David Sánchez – Carib
  • Najee – Center of the Heart
  • Nathan Mitchell – SoulMate
  • Vanessa Rubin – The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary

• Kirk Franklin – Love Theory"
  • John P. Kee feat. Zacardi Cortez – I Made It Out
  • BeBe Winans feat. Korean Soul – Laughter
  • Donnie McClurkin – Not Yet
  • The Clark Sisters – Victory

Outstanding Music Video

• Lizzo – "Juice"
  • H.E.R. – "Hard Place"
  • Chris Brown feat. Drake – "No Guidance"
  • India Arie – "Steady Love"
  • Khalid – "Talk"

Outstanding Song, Traditional

• Beyoncé – "Spirit"
  • Fantasia – "Enough"
  • Lizzo – "Jerome"
  • Cynthia Erivo – "Stand Up"
  • India Arie – "Steady Love"

Outstanding Song, Contemporary

• Beyoncé – "Before I Let Go"
  • H.E.R. – "Hard Place"
  • Lizzo – "Juice"
  • Normani – "Motivation"
  • Khalid – "Talk"

Outstanding Album

• Beyoncé – Homecoming: The Live Album
  • Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
  • H.E.R. – I Used to Know Her
  • Fantasia – Sketchbook
  • India Arie – Worthy

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation

• Beyoncé & Various artists – The Lion King: The Gift
  • Terence Blanchard – Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  • Various artists – Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack
  • Various artists – The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • Michael Abels – Us (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)