The NAACP has announced that R&B icon Usher will be honored with the President’s Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards. The ceremony airs live Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and CBS.
The President’s Award recognizes individuals with a special achievement and distinguished public service. Usher will join previous recipients, including Jay-Z, Rihanna, Lauryn Hill, LeBron James, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Muhammad Ali and more.
“We are honored to present this year’s President’s Award to USHER for his unparalleled talent and remarkable contributions as an artist and advocate for our community,” says Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. “Beyond his vocal talent and stage presence, USHER has empowered thousands of under-resourced youth to pursue their dreams through college readiness programs, financial literacy, and career planning. His dedication to creating positive change in the world has touched countless lives, redefining the boundaries of creativity and compassion.”
BET’s President and CEO Scott Mills adds, “USHER stands as a distinguished multihyphenate performer, consistently setting new standards for Black Excellence. With a career spanning over three decades, USHER has earned his place as one of the foremost performers of our era and a beacon for social change in our community. It is a profound honor to recognize his extraordinary impact and lasting legacy.”
Earlier this week, Usher was among the first round of winners of the non-televised categories at the NAACP Image Awards; he was crowned Outstanding Male Artist. The R&B titan is still up for Entertainer of the Year, which will be announced during the live telecast. Other nominees in that category include Colman Domingo, Fantasia, Halle Biley and Keke Palmer.
Usher, who headlined the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show in February, is set to launch his Past Present Future Tour this summer. The upcoming massive tour, which has dates through April 2025, is in support of Usher’s ninth album, Coming Home.
The independently released album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart with 91,000 equivalent units sold. Elsewhere on Billboard, Coming Home opened at No. 1 on the Top Current Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
“COMING HOME is an ode to going back to your roots, whatever or wherever that may be,” explained Usher. “I’m COMING HOME to where I’m comfortable in being exactly who I am right now. My hope is that you identify with the new album no matter where you are or what you’re going through, too.”
A week after releasing Coming Home, Usher released an expanded edition that featured two new songs, “Believe” and “Naked.”
Circling back to the NAACP Image Awards, the ceremony will be hosted by the legendary Queen Latifah. The star-studded affair will feature a performance by Andra Day and a roster of presenters, including Delroy Lindo, Deon Cole, Diarra Kilpatrick, Donnie Wahlberg, Erika Alexander, Idris Elba, Jeffrey Wright, Keke Palmer, Kenya Barris, Kerry Washington, Leslie Jones, Lil Rel Howery, Morris Chestnut, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Sabrina Elba, Sterling K. Brown and Taraji P. Henson.