NAACP Image Awards: A look back at Entertainer of the Year winners

Lizzo won the award in 2020 and the “Cuz I Love You” singer talked about her mission to spread body positivity during her speech. “I just want to shout out all of the big Black girls that I bring on stage with me. I do that because I want them to know that they are the trophies.”

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Ava DuVernay took home Entertainer of the Year at the 49th NAACP Image Awards. DuVernay, a prolific producer and director of film and television series like “Queen Sugar,” took the stage and joked, “I’m a director! I shouldn’t be up here!” Some of DuVernay’s other credits include “Selma” and the documentary “13th.”

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was named Entertainer of the Year in 2017. Johnson dedicated his speech to his late grandfather and his dad. “Two very proud men of color, who came up from having nothing but, broke color barriers and blazed a path for me and so many others,” he wrote in a caption on Instagram following his win.

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Michael B. Jordan won double in 2016, both for Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actor for his performance in “Creed.” During his speech he humbly said, “I used to sneak into the Image Awards, and now I’m standing here as the Entertainer of the Year, which is mind-blowing.”

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Taraji P. Henson was named the NAACP Entertainer of the Year in 2015. She got praise for her roles in both “Empire” and in “No Good Deed.”

“What it represents to me is that all of the beautiful people and faces and lives that I get to touch through the gift that God gave me,” Henson said during her acceptance speech. “I take that very seriously. This means so much to me.”

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Kevin Hart dedicated his award to his mother when he won Entertainer of the Year in 2014. He had multiple projects that year, including “Ride Along” and “About Last Night.”

“I’m on my toes right now,” the actor and comedian joked when he reached the microphone, before becoming more serious. “Right now I am working hard towards my own dream and the fact that that dream is becoming a reality is unreal.”

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When Jamie Foxx took the stage to accept the Entertainer of the Year Award at the 44th NAACP Image Awards, he sang Fred Hammond’s “No Weapon” as part of his acceptance speech. Foxx brought his daughter, Corinne Bishop with him for the memorable evening.

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Beyoncé was named Entertainer of the Year at the 50th NAACP Image Awards. That same evening, her husband Jay-Z received the NAACP’s President’s Award. She also won the award in 2004.

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Steve Harvey was the NAACP Entertainer of the Year in 2001. He referenced the loss of his parents in his acceptance speech and thanked them for teaching him where he comes from.

“I was a country boy from West Virginia … I appreciate God for everything I’ve got,” Harvey said.

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When Halle Berry took the stage at the NAACP Awards in 2000 to accept the Entertainer of the Year Award, she thanked her mother.

“This year has been the best year of my entire life … thank you to my mother although her skin is White her heart is multicolored and her soul is one of passion and compassion, understanding for all people. I thank you for allowing me to grow in that environment.”

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Will Smith launched to fame as a teen and hasn’t stopped. As a young man on the rise, Smith was named Entertainer of the Year in 1999. Michael Jordan was also honored that same year with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award. Harry Belafonte received the Chairman’s Award that evening and Lauryn Hill was given the Presidential Award.

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Singer, songwriter and producer, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds was named Entertainer of the Year in 1998. Throughout his career, Edmonds has won 12 Grammy Awards and is responsible for some of R&Bs biggest hits. He also co-founded LaFace Records with L. A. Reid and signed artists like TLC, Usher and Toni Braxton.

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Denzel Washington was given the Entertainer of the Year Award in 1997. At this time in his career, he had just completed “The Preacher’s Wife,” co-starring Whitney Houston and had received his first Oscar nomination for “Cry Freedom” a decade earlier.

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Quincy Jones was named Entertainer of the Year in 1996. The music producer has won 28 Grammys over the course of his career and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

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The late Whitney Houston won Entertainer of the Year in 1994. The award was presented to her by Denzel Washington. During that same ceremony, she also won Outstanding Female Artist for her role in “The Bodyguard.” Her hit song, “I’m Every Woman” was awarded Outstanding Music Video. She won the same award in 1995.

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Michael Jackson was named Entertainer of the Year at the NAACP Image Awards in 1993. He took the stage and received a standing ovation and said that the NAACP stands for two things he cared deeply about, freedom and equality. Jackson added that he accepted the award on “behalf of the world’s healing when all our brothers and sisters will be as free and as equal as we are today.”

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Just a few years after her Oscar-winning performance in “The Color Purple,” Whoopi Goldberg had another hit in “Ghost.” She won the NAACP Entertainer of the Year Award in 1990.

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The Queen of Daytime talk, Oprah Winfrey, was given the prestigious Entertainer of the Year Award in 1989 and 1991 for her work on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Winfrey wrapped her talk show in 2011 but she’s still bringing millions of people together for conversation on AppleTV+

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Eddie Murphy was presented with Entertainer of the Year at the NAACP Image Awards in 1988. Murphy began his career doing stand up comedy and joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” He has starred in hit films like “48 Hours,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” and “The Nutty Professor.” In 2021, he was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.

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Lionel Richie was awarded Entertainer of the Year in 1987. The singer and song writer is the man behind “Easy,” “Hello,” and dozens of other hits we “Truly” love.

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Dionne Warwick received the award in 1986 but we’d been singing along with her long before that with hits like “Walk on By,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Don’t Make Me Over.” Beyond her music career, Warwick is known for her philanthropic work as UN Goodwill Ambassador and her brilliant Twitter wit.

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Patti LaBelle received Entertainer of the Year at the 1985 and 1992 NAACP Image Awards. LaBelle began her career in the ’60s as the frontwoman of the group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. The “Godmother of Soul” has had a singing and acting career that has spanned seven decades and she has sold more than 50 million records.

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